Strict expenditure limits restrain offering of siropas

Tribune News Serive

Bathinda, January 7

Strict expenditure limits set by the Election Commission of India (ECI) have restrained candidates from offering and receiving siropas. The rate of siropas has been mentioned Rs 90 per piece in the rate list given to the candidates by the ECI.

Leaders have started instructing party workers not to offer siropas. Now, workers have started offering garland, which is Rs 15 per piece as per the rate list.

Sky rocketing election expenses have become a matter of serious concern for candidates and their campaign managers.

Staying in the spending limits set by the ECI is proving to be a herculean task for the candidates. Expenditure monitoring cells are working overtime to keep a tab on the poll expenses of the candidates.

It is witnessed that due to the strictness of the ECI, the cultural of wine and dine diplomacy, which was common during earlier elections, has also seen decline trend. So far, candidates are in no mood to take any risk on their poll limit issue.

Manpreet Badal’s relative Jaijeet Johal, who is looking after Manpreet’s campaign along with Congress leader Rajan Garg, said, “Rs 90 has been fixed for a one piece of siropa that is too high. We have been instructing our workers not to give siropa. We have been giving Congress marked cloth to those who are joining the Congress, which is very nominal than the siropa.