Though exact figures of the money spent by each political party for the elections are not available, the amounts are staggering.

In 2004, the Election Commission had spent around Rs 40 crore to conduct the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, said Joint Chief Electoral Officer Fairoza Khanam. In addition, about Rs 35 crore was spent to ensure peaceful polls.

“In 2004 in each constituency we spent around Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh. In the recently concluded by-polls to the Assembly, we spent around Rs 15 lakh in Ullal and more than Rs 20 lakh in Chamundeshwari,” she said, adding that in each constituency at least four election officers were deployed. While each presiding officer was paid Rs 200 per day, the polling officers got around Rs 150 each per day. Money was also spent on the batteries of around 22,000 Electronic Voting Machines.

To ensure a trouble-free poll around Rs 35 crore was spent on bandobast in the state, according to a senior police officer.

Though there is sealing of Rs 10 lakh for each candidate contesting Assembly election, none of the candidates from major political parties spend less than Rs 50 lakh, alleged N Nagaraju, president, Citizen Rights Forum (CRF). Citizen Rights Forum, a Bangalore-based NGO, said around Rs 600 crore was spent by major political parties in the State.

“Candidate contesting Assembly election, spend anywhere between Rs 70 lakhs and Rs one crore. There are 224 constituencies in Karnataka and in each constituency three major parties — Congress, BJP and JD-S- field their candidates. The expenditure in each constituency touches around Rs two crore to Rs three crore,” said Nagaraju.