Kerala Assembly poll to be costliest ever

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The coming Assembly elections in the state might turn out to be the costliest ever. While huge hoardings of smiling ministers have already started appearing in the streets and the LDF also is gearing up for a big campaign, the vital question before the voters is from where and how the political parties will source the money needed for a long-drawn electoral battle.

The election commission has fixed a limit of Rs 20 lakh to Rs 28 lakh for each Assembly segment, which many believe is too low. Sources said the cost for a single public announcement vehicle per day is around Rs 1,500-2,000, printing cost of leaflets Rs 5,000 and a single stage for public meetings in major junctions costs Rs 3,000-5,000.

Add to this Rs 200 to Rs 500 wages for foot soldiers who paste posters, put up banners and hoardings, distribute leaflets and make announcements.  Expenses like holding mega public meetings for national leaders, which need  a couple of lakhs, also go to the candidate’s account.

Sources say considering the duration, escalating cost of materials and manpower, major parties might end up spending between Rs 50 to Rs 80 lakh or even more in each constituency. When asked about the possibility of increasing the spending limit for the Assembly constituency, Chief Election Commisioner Nasim Zaidi during his recent visit to the state said the majority of candidates show the expenditure much below the prescribed limits.

So is there a mechanism to check over-spending? “We filed a petition against the over-spending by major candidates during the Lok Sabha elections with video evidence. Since the complainant has to prove the charges it was not  viable for us to bring in all witnesses. Even EC-appointed expenditure observers do not intervene effectively. State funding is the only answer,” said Aam Aadmi Party leader Ajit Joy.

KPCC general secretary M.M. Hassan says the limit should be raised to Rs 50 lakh. “The existing limit is too low. Many parties try to get election propaganda events sponsored or sourced from outside organisations to avoid EC action,” he said. CPM district secretary Kadkampally Surendran said the use of manpower and innovative campaign methods could bring down the cost.