The Election Commission of India has an expenditure monitoring cell to keep check on campaign expenses of each candidate.

Expenditure observers appointed by the EC for Lok Sabha constituencies have been tasked with ensuring constant vigilance of the campaign expenses of the candidates. The EC has even fixed expenditure caps for each candidate.

Flying squads have already been deployed in various places and static surveillance teams have been posted at inter-district check-posts for surprise inspections. A video surveillance team is also in place to record footage of meetings, processions, and other programmes.

The EC also direct candidates to get permission from the district administration prior to holding campaign programmes and to submit expenditure plans in advance.

For every single item to be used in electioneering by a candidate the EC has a price fixed to check abuse of money power.

The ceiling limit for election expenses for a contesting candidate has been fixed at Rs 70 lakh. Even the price of a candle has been fixed at Rs 10 per piece.

Here are a few items and their final approved rates for a candidate to purchase them for poll-related purposes for the 17th Lok Sabha election.

The Telegraph