04 Dec , 2021 By : Kanchan Joshi
Over Rs500 crore has been spent by the political parties towards advertisements and travel expenses for star campaigners during assembly elections in five states and UTs in 2021, a recent study showed. This money was part of the Rs1,100 crore kitty that these parties, including BJP and the Congress, received during the polls.
Total funds collected by 19 political parties during Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry Assembly Elections held in 2021 was Rs1,116.81 crore and total expenditure incurred was Rs514.30 crore
The BJP received the highest amount of Rs611.692 crore and spent Rs252 crore during the assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch said. "Of the total, the party spent Rs85.26 crore on publicity, including media advertisement, and Rs61.73 crore on travel expenses of star campaigners and other leaders."
It also cited, the Congress received the second-highest amount of Rs193.77 crore and spent Rs85.625 crore, including Rs31.451 crore on publicity and Rs20.40 towards travel expenses.
The DMK, which received the third-highest amount of Rs134 crore, incurred a total expenditure of Rs114.14 crore, with the party spending Rs52.144 crore on publicity and Rs2.414 crore towards travel expenses of its star campaigners and other leaders.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) received a total fund of Rs79.244 crore, TMC Rs56.328 crore, AIADMK Rs14.46 crore and the CPI Rs8.05 crore during the elections. "While the CPI(M) incurred an expenditure of Rs32.74 crore, spending Rs21.509 crore towards publicity and Rs1.173 crore on travel expenses."
TMC spent Rs154.282 crore, incurring an expenditure of Rs27.009 crore on publicity and Rs33.02 towards travel expenses, according to the report.
The AIADMK's total expenditure during the elections stood at Rs57.33 crore, and of that, Rs56.756 crore went towards publicity.
The CPI spent Rs5.68 crore in elections, incurring an expenditure of Rs3.506 crore on publicity, according to the report.
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