MNS asked to submit rally expenses after BJP’s plaint

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has been asked to submit details within 90 days with regards to the expenses incurred on chief Raj Thackeray’s election rallies.

An election official said the notice for submission of election expenditure was issued after consultation with the Election Commission of India (ECI) following a complaint from the Bhar-atiya Janata Party (BJP).

Two days ago, The Asian Age had reported that the expenditure of MNS chief Raj Thac-keray's public rallies would be added to the party’s annual expenditure. Now, the officials said that as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951, every political party would have to submit expenditure of the public rallies in three months, and the candidate has to submit the expenditure within 30 days. Similarly, the ECI had directed the MNS to submit the expenditure incurred on its public rallies.

More than 20 days ago, the BJP had demanded that expenditure incur-red on MNS’ rallies be shown in the accounts of Opposition candidates in the nine Lok Sabha constituencies where Mr Thackeray had addre-ssed rallies.

The official said, “We sought guidance regarding the complaint and were told that the MNS is a registered political party and should give details of the expenses incurred on its election rallies. The notices to this effect are being sent to Mr Thackeray through district collectors of the areas where he addres-sed rallies.”

He also said this was a routine procedure and all national, state and registered parties have to submit their statement of accounts.

Though the MNS is not contesting LS elections, Mr Thackeray held nine rallies in Maharashtra last month, in which he attacked the BJP.

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