Samosas, biryani, tea: District poll panels fix prices for campaign expenses

Election expenditure rate cards set prices for food and services for candidates in Lok Sabha elections.

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 Lok Sabha fast approaching, district poll panels are fixing the rates for expenses as part of the election expenditure monitoring process.

Candidates will have to manage their expenditures within the prescribed limit.

These rate cards often become a subject of "meme-fest" 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 ₹40 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.