Expensive Elections: Regional Parties Spend More Than They Collect

Regional parties have spent more than their funds in 71 assembly and three Lok Sabha elections in the past 11 years.

Regional parties including AIADMK, DMK and JD(U) spent more money during the elections than they collected during elections. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

A report by a think-tank named Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has claimed that regional parties in the states spent more money during the elections than they collected, reports Livemint.

According to the report, these parties spent more than the funds collected by them in 71 assembly and three Lok Sabha elections over the past eleven years.

DMK Chief M Karunanidhi. (Photo Courtesy: The News Minute)

The conclusions were based on statements submitted by the parties to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The numbers are to be submitted within 75 days of Assembly elections and 90 days of Lok Sabha elections.

Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and Karunanidhi’s DMK spent three times the money they had collected.

In Lok Sabha elections, Karunanidhi’s party spent “nearly 10 times” its funds while Mamata Banerjee’s TMC spent Rs 2 crore more than the party had collected.

Other parties that spent more than their funds include the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Shironami Akali Dal (SAD), Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).