ECI allows appointment of additional agent

Chandigarh: The Election Commission has allowed appointment of additional agent for assisting the candidates for closer and better monitoring of election expenses in Lok Sabha polls.

In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the EC has said that candidates of large Parliament constituencies spread over the entire state or more than one district were finding it difficult to monitor the process of election in the entire constituency with only one election agent permitted under the law. Keeping in view this problem, the commission has decided to permit appointment of `authorised nominees` in addition to the election agent, an election official said. It was also clarified that these nominees would not have the legal status of election agent but may represent the candidates for meeting with officials and also perform non-statutory functions on behalf of the candidate. The number of such authorised nominees should not be more than the number of Assembly segments in the constituency, he said.