Expenses On Foreign Travel Would Come Under Poll Expenditure: Election Commission

New Delhi: Foreign expenses by political leaders and candidates travelling abroad to woo Non-Resident Indians would be included in the expenditure of candidates, the Election Commission said today in the wake of some leaders making such overseas visits.

The Election Commission said as part of the campaign, party leaders and candidates may travel to overseas countries for purposes of canvassing in their favour to seek votes of overseas electors residing in those countries, which is not prohibited under the law.

The election panel , however, clarified that all expenditure incurred by those candidates, their agents or party leaders on their travel, boarding and lodging in those countries would be deemed to be the expenditure incurred or authorised by the candidates concerned in connection with their election.

"Thus, all such expenditure would come within the meaning of Section 77(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and will have to be included by the candidates concerned in their accounts of election expenses which are subject to the limits prescribed by Rule 90 of the Conduct of Elections Rules 1961," the Election Commission said.

The Election Commission said any inducement to overseas electors by way of air tickets or any other allurements to them, in cash or kind, for coming to India to vote would amount to electoral offence of "bribery" under Indian Penal Code and "corrupt practice of bribery" under the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

"It would invite penal action against the candidate concerned under the relevant provisions of law," it said.

The Election Commission clarified that any person or organisation offering to bear the travel expenses of overseas electors to India in connection with voting in elections, or any other such allurements to them to seek their votes, with the consent of the candidate or his election agent, would also attract the same penal action against them.

The poll body said the clarifications would be applicable in all elections in future, including those to Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

Significantly, some political leaders including Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh and some AAP leaders have visited overseas, including United States, to woo NRIs for the assembly elections in Punjab slated early next year.