Limits on campaign expenditure are meant to ensure a level-playing field for everyone contesting elections. The Election Commission of India imposes limits on campaign expenditure incurred by a candidate, but not by a political party. Expenditure by a Lok Sabha candidate is capped at between ₹50 lakh and ₹70 lakh. For Assembly elections, the ceiling is between ₹20 lakh and ₹28 lakh. Candidates must mandatorily file a true account of election expenses with the EC. An incorrect account, or expenditure beyond the ceiling, can attract disqualification for up to three years. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence to suggest that many candidates in India spend much more than the ceiling.
