ELECTION EXPENSES
Filing of Candidates Election Expenses:

Lodging of election expenses by the contesting candidates in Local Body Elections is a statutory requirement as per the following provisions of Acts and Rules.

Rural Local Bodies : Section 37 (4) of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 and rule 120 of the Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Elections) Rules, 1995.

Urban Local Bodies : Section 12 (8) of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998 and rule 129 of the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules, 2023.

As per the said provisions, every contesting candidate shall have to file his/her accounts of election expenses within 30 days from the date of declaration of results.

Every contesting candidate at an election shall within thirty days from the date of declaration of the result of the election lodge with the officer as specified by the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission, an account of election expenses which shall be a true copy of the account kept by him or by his election agent.

If a candidate fails to lodge an account of election expenses within the prescribed time the State Election Commission will serve a show cause notice asking him as to why he should not be disqualified for this failure. On receipt of this notice, within 20 days the candidate shall submit the accounts along with his explanation for the non submission of accounts.

If the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission is satisfied that a person has failed to lodge an account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by or under these Acts, and has no good reason or justification for the failure, the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission shall, by order published in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette, declare him to be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being, a member or Chairperson as the case may be, and any such person shall be disqualified for the period of three years from the date of the order.

Ceiling of Election Expense

Rural Local Bodies   Rs.
For election as Ward Member of a District Panchayat : 1,70,000
For election as Ward Member of a Panchayat Union : 85,000
For election as President of a Village Panchayat : 34,000
For election as Ward Member of a Village Panchayat : 9,000


 Urban Local Bodies   Rs.
For election as Councillor of a Town Panchayat : 17,000
For election as Councillor of a Municipal Council (2nd and 1st Grade) : 34,000
For election as Councillor of a Municipal Council (Selection and Special Grade) : 85,000
For election as Councillor of a Municipal Corporation (other than Municipal Corporation of Chennai) : 85,000
For election as Councillor of  Municipal Corporation of Chennai : 90,000

Any candidate who fails to file statement of election expenses account to the appropriate authorities either by himself or by his election agent and who has exceeded the prescribed ceiling amount shall be deemed to have indulged in a corrupt practice under the relevant sections of the Act.

The Tamil Nadu State Election will identify and issue showcause notice to the contested candidates who have failed to lodge their election expenditure account. The defaulters will be disqualified to contest or to hold office for a period of three years from the date of issue of such order.

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