The expenditure limit for each candidate in Gurugram district in the Haryana assembly elections scheduled for October 1 has been set at ₹40 lakh, said Gurugram district election officer and deputy commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav on Sunday, adding that the Model Code of Conduct is now in effect following the announcement of the election.
Gurugram district election officer and deputy commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav. (HT Photo)
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He added that each candidate must submit a security deposit of ₹10,000 in cash while Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates must submit ₹5,000 in cash. Payments by cheque or demand draft will not be accepted.
The nomination process will commence on September 5 at the offices of the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) for the Pataudi, Gurugram, Sohna, and Badshahpur assembly constituencies. Nominations will not be accepted on September 8 (Sunday).
Officials said that candidates can file nominations until September 12 and the scrutiny of these papers will take place on September 13. Candidates may withdraw their nominations on September 16 by 3pm, after which the election symbols will be allocated to candidates in all four constituencies, said officials.
The DC said that candidates will be allowed to bring a maximum of four people into the office of the Returning Officer (RO) or the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) during the nomination process. Additionally, only three vehicles will be permitted within a 100-metre radius of the RO and ARO offices. “The candidates will have to maintain a detailed record of all election expenses to ensure compliance with the Election Commission of India’s regulations,” he said.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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