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Amid liquor ban, Bihar panchayat poll spending to fall

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Jitendra K Shrivastava

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Tribune News Service

Patna, April 19

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The poll expenditure of candidates in the Bihar panchayat elections is likely to fall by at least 25 to 40 per cent following the blanket ban on liquor across the state even as those in the fray have been finding it tough to woo the electorate and polling agents in the absence of liquor.

Bihar Village-heads Association president Priyadarshani Sahi said the actual spending on liquor used to be quite high, but candidates would put it at 25-40 per cent of their total expenditure. “The complete prohibition may also spring poll surprises as the electorate would no longer be influenced by liquor. It will ensure free and fair elections, but smuggling will have to be checked in parts of Bihar neighbouring Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Nepal,” said Sahi.

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The state Cabinet had two months ago increased the expenditure limit for panchayat candidates after amending the Bihar Panchayat Election Rules, 2006. While the new limit for district board contestants is Rs1 lakh, it would be Rs30,000 for those fighting for panchayat samitis. The limit for village head and sarpanch would be Rs40,000.

There are about 8,500 panchayats in the state for which elections are scheduled in April-May. Around 11,500 members are to be elected to panchayat samitis and 1,150 to district boards.

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