The income tax (I-T) department is closely monitoring expenses incurred by candidate and political parties in the forthcoing Hatia assembly byelection slated for June 12.

The department has also issued toll-free number and urged the people to provide information on any move by candidates or parties to entice voters by using money power. The toll-free number issued by the department is 18003456547.

Director I-T (investigation) Ajay Kumar confirmed that the department has issued the number to ensure timely flow of information to check misuse of money. "We expect that information will flow to the department and help in preventing use of money power (to win votes)," Kumar said. However, he did not share anything on the type of information the department gets when a toll-free number is issued to prevent blatant misuse of money by candidates and political parties during elections.

Meanwhile, the BJP and Congress have start preparation for the Hatia byelection in right earnest. Leaders of both the parties held meetings in their respective state party offices to discuss strategy for campaigning.

On its part, the BJP has decided that party candidate, Ramji Lal Sharda, will file his nomination paper on May 23.

The by-election was necessitated following death of sitting Congress MLA Gopal Sharan Nath Sahdeo in 2010. The Election Commission could not hold the by-election earlier as an election petition challenging the result was pending in the Jharkhand high court.

Congress spokesperson Saliesh Sinha said as the seat fell vacant because of demise of party's sitting MLA, the Congress would request the electorate of Hatia constituency to support its candidate as 'a tribute to their leader' and vote against the corrupt state government which only makes false promises.