Click to play videoMumbai: Congress candidates for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in Mumbai were a pleased lot when they heard that Party Chief Sonia Gandhi will be in Maharashtra to campaign for them, but there is a catch.
The Maharashtra state election officer on Thursday ruled that Congress candidates will have to pay for the entire cost of Sonia Gandhi's trip and rally from their campaign budgets if she campaigns for them - something that might put a spanner in the works.
State Chief Election Officer Nand Lal has even said that if the total amount, when divided amongst the candidates, exceeds their set limit, the candidates would be disqualified.
"All the expenses will be borne by the candidates of the party. We do not bear the expenses of the local parties.All the expenses will be borne by the candidates of the party. We do not bear the expenses of the local parties," he said.
There are 90 Congress candidates with a limit of Rs 1 lakh each. However, the rally is expected to cost several crore rupees.
Sonia Gandhi is going to address a public meeting at Mumbai's Shivaji Park on December 23.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has assured the people of Mumbai that they will not be inconvenienced because of the rally.
"Whatever arrangements we make here are for people's convenience. We want to have proper arrangements for all," he said.
Mumbai Regional Congress Committee functionaries are busy in preparations for the public meeting.
The party had booked 2000 State Transport buses to bring in the crowds from various parts of the state for the rally and had even paid Rs 10 lakh as booking amount but the move has been cancelled with the code of conduct for the elections coming into force.
The election is to take place on February 1, 2007. Elections are also being held on February 1, for nine other municipal corporations in Maharashtra.
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