Chandigarh: Today marks the beginning of an important phase in the electoral journey, as the filing of nominations for the 2024 Lok Sabha General Election in the Chandigarh Parliamentary Constituency has commenced. Candidates from various political parties and backgrounds are now officially stepping forward to contest in the upcoming election, reflecting the vibrant democratic spirit of our nation. Candidates intending to file nominations are hereby reminded to strictly adhere to the instructions provided by the Election Commission of India regarding the maintenance of election expenditure, with an upper limit set at Rs. 75.00 lakh applicable for Chandigarh Parliamentary Constituency. Key instructions include: • The Candidates are required to open a dedicated bank account exclusively for election expenditure purposes. All transactions exceeding Rs. 10,000 must be conducted through cheque, draft, or bank transfer, utilizing the designated election expenditure bank account. • Maintaining comprehensive records of all funds received and expenditures incurred, including donations, loans, and expenses on campaign items. • Additionally, candidates must maintain an election expenditure register as per the instructions and rates specified by the District Election Officer. • Candidates must maintain day-to-day accounts, including a cash book, bank book, and vouchers, starting from the date of filing nomination. • Obtaining permission for all vehicles used for election campaigns and displaying the same on their windscreen. • Ensuring all expenses, including those on rallies and promotional activities, are duly recorded as per Commission’s guidelines. • Candidates must also ensure that expenses tally with the “Shadow Observation Register” to be maintained by Expenditure Monitoring Cell of DEO. Failure to comply with the stipulated guidelines may lead to disqualification under Section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Further, Expenditure Observer to Chandigarh Parliamentary Constituency, Sh Koushlendra Tewari, IRS, has arrived in Chandigarh and will be staying at the UT Guest House, Sector 6. He may be contacted at 0172- 2993878 or 9877809429. Candidates are urged to adhere to these instructions diligently to ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral process.