AMN
Election Commission today again asked the RBI to comply with its directive to enhance the cash withdrawal limit for candidates in poll states of UP, Uttrakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur.
This came after RBI rejected the Commission’s request to enhance the weekly cash-withdrawal limit to Rs. 2 lakh from Rs. 24,000 per week.
The limit of Rs. 24,000 is considered insufficient by the candidates to meet their campaign expenditure.
Turning down poll panel’s request, the Central Bank had said, it is not possible for it to hike the limit at this stage.
In its latter to RBI Governor Urjit Patel, the Commission expressed serious concern about the cursory manner, the issue was dealt with.
It said, the RBI has not realized the gravity of the situation reiterating that it is the constitutional mandate of the Commission to conduct free and fair elections and to provide level-playing field to all candidates. The poll body urged the RBI to reconsider the proposal.
On Wednesday, the Commission had told RBI that it has been apprised of the problems being faced by the candidates due to withdrawal limits imposed after the note ban.
The EC had said the facility should be extended till 11th of March, the day of counting.