TN leaders spent far less than EC set limit for poll campaign

Though the EC had set a limit of Rs 16 lakh for election- related expenses, Jayalalithaa spent Rs 9.60 lakh, while her arch-rival Karunanidhi expended Rs 4.47 lakh-- not even half the amount used by the AIADMK leader, as per their poll expenditure details submitted to the Election Commission.

Out of the total expenditure, Jayalalithaa, who contested from Srirangam constituency, spent majority of her money (Rs 65,700) on vehicles and campaigning through electronic media and print media (Rs 58,300), her expenditure details said.

She had spent Rs 32,200 for erecting cutouts and posters in her constituency.
Karunanidhi, who contested from Tiruvarur constituency, had spent Rs 4.47 lakh, of which Rs one lakh was towards campaign through electronic media, posters and cutouts.

The 88-year-old had spent Rs 1.92 lakh for vehicles while Rs 45,000 was spent on public meetings and rallies.

Stalin, who contested from Kolathur constituency, has shown an expenditure of Rs 3.32 lakh, including Rs 66,700 for public meetings and rallies, Rs 80,440 on campaign material. His miscellaneous expenses were Rs 1.48 lakh.

Vijayakant, who contested from Rishivandhiyam constituency, spent Rs 7.97 lakh, of which Rs 1.58 lakh was for vehicle expenses. He spent Rs 1.73 lakh on public meetings and Rs 60,625 on campaigns. His miscellaneous expenditure was Rs 3.62 lakh, according to his expenditure details.

Former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K V Thankgabalu, who contested from Mylapore constituency, spent Rs 4.04 lakh, of which Rs 1.73 lakh was on public meetings and rallies.

His vehicle expenses were Rs 66,350 while he spent Rs 2.47 lakh for campaigning. Congress provided him Rs 10 lakh for poll expenses while Chennai-based private firm Karthik Granites donated Rs five lakh as 'grant', his poll expenditure details says.

BJP state unit president Pon. Radhakrishnan, who contested from Nagercoil constituency, spent Rs 8.56 lakh of which Rs 5.18 lakh was for expenditure on vehicles alone. He spent Rs 2.14 lakh for campaigns through electronic media and for cut outs while Rs 21,992 was spent on public meeting and rallies.
His party gave him Rs 5.55 lakh.

Sriperumbudur MP and DMK Parliamentary leader T R Baalu's son T R B Rajaa spent Rs 8.78 lakh for the polls comprising Rs 2.78 lakh for vehicle expenditure.

Besides, he spent about Rs 1.69 lakh for campaign, including the amount spent on cut-outs and usage of electronic media. For conducting public meetings and rallies he spent Rs 40,000.