960420

Indian election

candidates fear

lawsuits

NEW DELHI: Indian political parties fear an avalanche of lawsuits brought by losing candidates after the April/May general elections as a result of strict rules on poll expenses, United News of India (UNI) said on Saturday. India's autonomous Election Commission has placed a ceiling of 415,000 rupees ($11,850) on poll expenses for the candidates in the Indian capital. Candidates away from New Delhi have been allowed a budget of 450,000 rupees ($12,850). Each candidate is allowed a maximum of three vehicles, and will be billed for using air transport. There have also been complaints by political parties that rival groups have used their religious appeal to woo voters, which is barred under election rules. Most political parties agree the ceiling is too low to cover campaign expenses but have decided to abide by the restrictions. "Once the elections are over the first thing the losing candidate will do is to rush to the court and file a complaint against the winner," UNI quoted Surface Transport Minister M. Rajasekara Murthy as saying. The Election Commission says it has received dozens of complaints from candidates across the country alleging over-spending by their rivals. Former prime minister Indira Gandhi's election was quashed by a high court after she was found guilty of corrupt practices in winning the 1971 polls. She ignored the court verdict and imposed her unpopular emergency rule in 1975.-Reuter