With three days to go for polling, political parties have intensified their poll campaigning. But the candidates of this general election have focused more on online campaigning which helped them spend less.
According to Mid-Day, Thane, Kalyan and Bhiwandi candidates have spent less on campaigning in Lok Sabha elections. Each candidate has been allowed to spend Rs 70 lakh each but they are yet to spend even half the amount. They have spent mainly on rented vehicles, banners and carriers, etc. used in their rallies. Between April 14 and 20, Kalyan’s Shiv Sena candidate, Shrikant Shinde, has spent Rs 7.86 lakh, while Bhiwandi’s BJP candidate, Kapil Patil, has spent around Rs 2.50 lakh on banners and carriages used in his rally. In the same period, NCP candidate Babaji Patil has spent around Rs 3 lakh, for campaigning in the rural parts of Kalyan.
But, on the other hand, NCP candidate Anand Paranjpe, has spent Rs 22 lakh and in Thane, Shiv Sena candidate and sitting MP Rajan Vichare has spent Rs 7 lakh. The EC officials have been keeping tabs on candidates every expense. The expenditure by the candidates contesting for the Kalyan and Bhiwandi seats in the Lok Sabha elections shows major amounts on the rent of vehicles, banners and advertisements, reported the leading daily.