Air Force won146;t fly DPM: EC

The Home Ministry had requested the EC to extend the privilege that the PM enjoys to the Deputy PM, citing security concerns. However, the Commission could not make a special case for Advani, especially because it had once rejected a similar request during the recent Assembly elections.

Without specifying when the EC sent its reply to the Government8217;s request, Jha said the Commission had received a new request from the Home Ministry.

Saying reports suggesting that top leaders can spend above the limit prescribed by the Commission as misleading, he said that only the travel expenses of designated leaders of political parties would not be billed to the candidates.

8216;8216;Guidelines have already been issued during the previous round of state elections last year. The guidelines are clear and unambigious,8217;8217; Jha said adding this would cover 40 leaders of recognised political parties and 20 leaders of unrecognised but registered parties.

He made it clear that only travel expenses were excluded in the candidates8217; expenses and all other expenses would be included.

Jha also said many candidates have been disqualified for not submitting their statements detailing poll expenses in the last elections.

The Commission is also merging or demerging polling stations to bring down the number of booths to seven lakh from 7.75 lakh in 1999 and also reduce polling staff, he added.