Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Nalin Kumar Kateel, the Lok Sabha member from Dakshina Kannada, spent less money than his rival and Congress candidate Janardhana Poojary during the campaigning for the elections.
All contesting candidates had filed the statement of expenditure by June 16, which have been accepted by the expenditure observer, said an official release from the Returning Officer, the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada.
Mr. Poojary spent Rs. 57,53, 403 and Mr. Katelel Rs. 48, 21, 472, according to the release.
Cap on expenditure
The Ministry of Law and Justice increased the cap on expenditure for Lok Sabha candidates in Karnataka from Rs. 40 lakh to Rs. 70 lakh on February 28 this year.
The expenditure incurred by other prominent candidates is as follows; Rs. 1,02,009 by Moose Kunhi of Bahujan Samaj Party; Rs. 9,61,383 by K. Yadava Shetty of Communist Party of India (Marxist); Rs. 24,09,901 by M.R. Vasudeva of Aam Admi Party and Rs. 11,87,304 by Haneef of Social Democratic Party of India.
Before last date
While Mr. Poojary had filed the expenditure statement on June 12, Mr. Kateel and Mr. Kunhi filed their statement on June 13; Mr. Shetty on June 11 and Mr. Vasudeva and Mr. Haneef on the last day, June 16, the release said. The expenditure observer Shantheshwara Swamy was present in Mangalore between June 17 and 19 to verify the statements.
Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim also said the Election Commission has also arranged payment of all bills, including towards buses and other vehicles requisitioned for poll duty.
