Tea for `15 in Punjab, `7 in MP

New Delhi, March 29: Candidates in Punjab’s Jalandhar can spend `15 for a cup of tea and the same price for a samosa they offer to people during public meetings and campaign trails in the Lok Sabha elections.

However, those in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla can spend `7 for a cup of tea and another `7.50 for a piece of samosa, considered a staple snack in many parts of the country. With polls to elect the 18th LS approaching, district poll panels are fixing the rates for expenses as part of election expenditure monitoring process.

The candidates will have to manage their expenditure within the prescribed limit. These rate cards often become a subject of “memefest” on social media

about the prices not being in sync with the current inflation level.

In most states, including Andhra Pradesh, the expenditure ceiling for a Lok Sabha candidate is set at `95 lakh. However, in Arunachal Pradesh, Goa and Sikkim, the limit is slightly lower at `75 lakh per candidate. Similarly, for Union territories,

the expenditure ceiling ranges from `75 lakh to `95 lakh per candidate, depending on the region. In Jalandhar, chole bhature has been capped at `0 while mutton and chicken have been priced at`250 and 500 per kg respectively. Desserts like dhodha (`450 per kg) and ghee pinni (`300 per kg) are also on the menu besides lassi and nimbu pani priced at `20 and 15 per glass respectively. While parties and candidates often offer workers and voters liquor, none of the rate cards mention alcohol.

Other heads which find mention in the rate cards range from expensive infrastructure, such as helipads, luxury vehicles, and farmhouses, to miscellaneous items like flowers, cooler, tower ACS and sofa. The rate cards have also prescribed the ceiling on rates for hiring of different vehicles for campaigning. Rates have also been set for rose garlands, marigold garlands and bouquet by some poll panels while some have included heads like party merchandise including caps and flags.