Pune and Maval Candidates Grapple with Campaign Expense Scrutiny: Notices Issued by Election Commission
Varad Bhatkhande
Pune, 7th May 2024: Candidates from both the Pune and Maval Lok Sabha constituencies have received notices from the Election Commission of India regarding their campaigning expenses. Ravindra Dhangekar and Murlidhar Mohol, the candidates for the Pune Lok Sabha constituency, have received their second notice, whereas Shrirang Barne and Sanjog Waghere, the candidates for the Maval constituency, have received their first notice.
Pune Lok Sabha Constituency
On Monday (6th May), Pune District Collector and District Election Officer Dr Suhas Diwase issued a second notice, as discrepancies were found in the campaign expenses balance sheets of Mahayuti candidate Muralidhar Mohol and Mahavikas Aghadi candidate Ravindra Dhangekar in the Pune Lok Sabha Constituency during the second inspection. Notices were also sent to two independent candidates, including Mohol and Dhangekar.
The polling for the Pune Lok Sabha Constituency is scheduled for 13th May, with 35 candidates contesting in the election. A second audit of campaign expenditures by candidates was conducted on Monday. Dhangekar initially reported an expenditure of ₹27,59,677 in the first phase, with a discrepancy of ₹9,05,018. Mohol, representing Mahayuti, submitted an expenditure of ₹33,13,402, showing a discrepancy of ₹27,24,232. Both candidates received the first notice and were directed to submit their expenditure statements by May 6.
During the second phase of the campaign expenditure investigation, Dhangekar reported expenses totalling ₹38,89,392, with a discrepancy of ₹11,67,709. Mohol’s expenses amounted to ₹49,34,058, with a discrepancy of ₹36,27,584. Dr Suhas Diwase issued another notice to Mohol and Dhangekar to promptly submit their accounts. Independent candidate Sachin Dhankude has yet to open a separate bank account for election campaign expenses, and independent candidate Sachin Chormale was absent during both the first and second candidate expenditure verifications. Dr Diwase issued a notice for Dhankude and Chormale to submit their campaign expenses.
Maval Lok Sabha Constituency
The initial investigation into the campaign expenses of MP Shrirang Barane, the Mahayuti candidate for the Maval Lok Sabha constituency, and Sanjog Waghere of the Mahavikas Aghadi, revealed discrepancies. It was discovered that there is a variance of 35 lakhs in Barane’s expenditure and seven lakhs in Waghere’s expenditure. Election Decision Officer Deepak Singla issued notices to all three candidates.
The first scrutiny of campaign expenses for candidates in the Maval Lok Sabha constituency was conducted. Discrepancies were identified between the candidates’ daily expenditure registers and the shadow registers maintained by the Election Commission. Mahayuti candidate Barane reported an expenditure of Rs. 13,40,364, while the Election Department’s register recorded an expenditure of Rs. 48,97,672, indicating a difference of Rs. 35,57,308 in Barane’s account.
Mahavikas Aghadi candidate Waghere declared an expenditure of Rs. 18,67,119, whereas the Election Department’s register showed an expenditure of Rs. 25,84,317, revealing a difference of Rs. 7,17,198 in Waghere’s account. Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi candidate Madhavi Joshi reported an expenditure of Rs. 72,125, while the Election Department’s register recorded an expenditure of Rs. 93,305, resulting in a variance of Rs. 21,180 in Joshi’s account. Notices were issued to Barne, Waghere, and Joshi, directing them to submit their statements within 48 hours. Failure to comply within the stipulated time frame will result in the assumption that the expenditure is acceptable and will be included in their election expenditure.
