The Election Commission had suggested a weekly limit of Rs 2 lakh against the current Rs 24,000 permitted for individuals. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa will hold elections in February and March.The limits were imposed as part of the demonetisation exercise announced on November 8. That compares with the Rs 28 lakh that candidates contesting assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab are allowed to spend on electioneering.The limit in Goa and Manipur is Rs 20 lakh. The commission had also said that candidates would find it difficult to meet campaign expenditure and that constituency returning officers could authenticate their identity. EC had wanted the higher withdrawal limit to be available till March 11, the day of counting.

Source: Economic Times January 27, 2017 19:30 UTC