New Delhi

Poll panel permits more vehicles for campaigning

New Delhi: Much to the relief of the candidates contesting the Delhi Assembly polls, the Election Commission has increased the number of vehicles to be used for campaigning from three to five.

According to a senior Delhi Election official, relaxation has been given following persistent demand from political parties who had been insisting that three vehicles would be insufficient to make the ‘right impact’ among the voters.

“As per order from the Election Commission, the number of vehicles has been increased in view of requests from political parties cutting across party-line that three vehicles were not sufficient to reach to every nook and corner of the constituency comprising four municipal wards,” he added.

From now, maximum five cars or vehicles can be used for electioneering purposes till the completion of election process, one for candidate and four for his agents.

The vehicles under security category will not be counted in the campaign convoy, the official said.

However, if any person moves in a convoy of vehicles exceeding the limit of five units, it will be the duty of the local administration to ensure that such vehicles are not allowed and directives are adhered, he said.

Welcoming the move, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee President J P Agarwal said it would help the candidates to reach out to their voters.

Though latest tools such as SMSes and websites are being adopted to spread the party’s messages, door-to-door campaign on foot as well as vehicles has no comparison when it comes to making the impact, he added.

In Delhi, the Election Commission has set a maximum limit of Rs 9 lakhs that any candidate can spend on the election campaign. -- PTI

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