VasaiCity.com

In what may set a precedent for the contestants in the upcoming city civic polls, the Konkan divisional commissioner has debarred for the next three years nearly 24 candidates from Thane, Kalyan Dombivali and Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporations for failing to submit their election expenditure details.

As per rules, candidates must submit their expenditure details on a daily basis during the polls and the complete expenditure details in a month after the results are declared.

In its recent order, the divisional commissioner has debarred seven poll candidates from the Kalyan-Dombivali, 16 from the Vasai-Virar municipal corporation over the civic elections and one from the Thane Municipal Corporation over by-polls held in 2010.

The candidates failed to submit the poll expenditure details incurred during the polls within the stipulated time and in the proper format.

Confirming the order, Konkan divisional commissioner SS Sandhu, said the debarred candidates can’t contest polls for next three years.

The harsh measure has provoked political parties to suggest amendment in rule seeking submission of the daily expenditure details. “Rather than submitting the details daily, it should be made once or twice in a week,” said Raj Purohit, BJP Mumbai unit president.

“Everyone should abide by the law and the same will be followed by us,” said Shirish Parkar, spokesperson of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

The citizen candidate party also expressed the similar views. Hansel D’Souza, the convener of Mumbai Nagrik Manch, said, “If the election commission simplifies the procedure of filing expenditure details, it would be easier for the candidates to submit the details following the rules.”