Ranchi, Aug. 24: All those aiming for a membership to the gram sabha in the coming panchayat elections will have to demonstrate their ability to manage affairs without burning a hole in the pocket.

This follows the decision of the state election commission to fix the upper limit of expenses at Rs 5,000.

A directive issued by the state election commissioner, G. Krishnan, has specified that candidates aiming for either the mukhiya?s chair in the gram sabha or a membership to the panchayat will have to restrict their expenses to a maximum of Rs 30,000.

In case of membership to the zilla parishad, the highest body, the commission has hiked the upper expenditure limit to Rs 75,000.

To calculate the quantum, the directive explained that all expenses incurred by a candidate or his duly authorised agent from the date of filing of nomination papers to the date of declaration of election results would be considered as poll expenses of the candidate concerned.

In case candidates contesting the panchayat polls desire to put up hoardings, banners and other publicity material as part of the election campaign, the election commission has ordered that such nominees would have to seek prior permission from the returning officer concerned .

In the event of banners and hoardings being put up without prior permission of the returning officer, the cost of such advertisements would be added to the total expenses of the candidate.