SEC to consider Sonia's Mumbai rally as an election rally

Mumbai, Dec 21 (UNI) All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi's rally in Mumbai on Saturday could well prove to be a costly affair for the party which is aiming to wrest the prestigious Mumbai municipal corporation from the Shiv Sena in the February 1 elections.

State Election Commissioner Nand Lal, while talking to reporters here today, pointed out that national parties are registered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and their audits are submitted to the ECI and not to the State Election Commission (SEC).

''The SEC will consider the rally as an election rally as we do not know anything about the party funds,'' Mr Nand Lal said. The expenses incurred on the rally will be considered as election expenses and the party candidates will have to bear the costs, he said.

The Congress has however maintained that the rally was a party function to mark the foundation day.

The expenditure limit for each candidate, contesting the civic elections, is Rs one lakh. Mr Nand Lal said candidates overstepping the limit would be barred.

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