Expenses statements reveal poll campaign yet to start

Surat: There is a perception that elections are very expensive in our country. However, a look at the election expenses statement for a week until April 10 submitted by candidates contesting from Surat Lok Sabha constituency to Election Commission of India may force one to have another opinion on this, sources said.
The daily expenses of BJP candidate Darshana Jardosh on campaigning comes to around Rs1.25 lakh. Congress candidate Ashok Adhevada has submitted election expenses statement, which averages around Rs75,000 daily for the week. Most of the expenses have been incurred by candidates in providing refreshments to activists and visitors to their election offices. But does this point to dull campaigning, the answer may well be no. The limit set for a candidate contesting for Lok Sabha election varies from state to state, but in Gujarat it is Rs70 lakh.

“At this rate, no candidate would have spent the permitted amount in full by the date when the campaign ends for the election scheduled on April 23 in Gujarat. However, the expenses can go up as the intensity of campaigning increases with every passing day. Candidates claim to have spent money on refreshments, transport and holding public and nukkad meetings. The candidates also spend money in arranging meeting of their parties’ star campaigners in their respective constituencies,” an electoral officer said.

“Some parties take advantage of rule too. For example, if a party bigwig comes to South Gujarat for a public meeting and canvasses for the candidates of his party fighting from five Lok Sabha constituencies in South Gujarat, the total expenses incurred on him or her will be divided equally among the five candidates. The candidates also know how to spend money and not account for it. What we see on papers is not even 20 per cent of what they actually spend,” the electoral officer added.