KOCHI: The extended poll phase with 69 days left has come as a bolt from the blue for the aspiring candidates, mostly sitting MLAs who face escalation in poll expenditure apart from the sweltering heat in the summer months. In the previous elections, the schedule was announced by the Election Commission on March 1, 2011 and the elections were held on April 13, with a total of 44 days for campaigning.
According to those engaged in electioneering, the poll expense will go up by 40 to 50 per cent this time compared to the last time. “It is difficult to sustain the campaign for the whole 69 days. Once it is launched, the campaign cannot be stopped or kept low. So it is better to delay the campaign in the present scenario,” said a Congress MLA who is readying for a second go at the hustings.
Campaigners admit that the expense last time was Rs 60-70 lakh and this time it would cross Rs 1 crore, though the Election Commission still retains the expenditure limit at Rs 28 lakh per candidate. This is on account of the cost escalation in five years as well as the extended one-month campaigning.
It is said that the Election Commission wanted to raise the ceiling this time but the statements filed by the candidates last time showed their figures below Rs 28 lakh, because of which the EC decided to retain the old limit. Last time, the Congress high command had reportedly lent out Rs 40 lakh but this time without power at the centre, the Congress leaders are apprehensive about liberal high command funding.
Each Assembly constituency will have at least seven panchayats comprising an average15-20 wards and the candidates will have to make their presence felt through campaigning in all of them till May 16.
“If 5,000 posters were the norm earlier, it will have to be increased this time to keep the momentum. How the summer showers will play spoilsport on posters and wall writings, nobody knows. But it is welcome on another count as temperature will be lowered,” said a senior Congress leader.
If workers took up campaigning on their own in the previous elections, nowadays the candidate has to summon resources and workers to move the campaign juggernaut. The cost of flex board is ('650 for 6 ft height X4ft width) is a relief for the candidates, but harping on ‘green’ campaigning is another challenge.
