Pune: BJP and NCP Candidates Top Spendthrifts in By-Elections
Pune, 23rd February 2023: Political parties in Pune are spending big ahead of the upcoming by-elections in Kasba and Chinchwad. The expenditure limit for assembly elections is Rs 40 lakhs, and candidates have to give the expenses report daily in the office of the Election Returning Officer of the Legislative Assembly from the time they fill the nomination form till the actual voting process is completed.
According to the candidate expenditure report of the election returning officer’s office, the BJP has spent the most in Kasba, while in Chinchwad, the NCP candidate has spent the most. In Kasba, BJP’s Hemant Rasane has spent Rs 8 lakh 33 thousand, while Congress’s Ravindra Dhangekar from Mahavikas Aghadi has spent Rs 3.75 lakh since filing his nomination form till February 20.
In Chinchwad, BJP’s Ashwini Jagtap has spent Rs. 4 lakh 97 thousand 917 till February 15 and Rs 15 lakh 61 thousand 785 till February 20, while NCP candidate Nana Kate spent Rs 4 lakh 74 thousand 740 till February 15 and Rs 21 lakh 46 thousand 933 till February 20.
The election office is also re-verifying the expenditure figures given by the candidates and the actual expenditure incurred. Records of expenses incurred during the election are prepared by the Election Office. The election office has informed that the election commission has appointed election inspectors to monitor the expenses of the candidates and they have checked the expenditure records of the candidates twice.
The by-election campaign has reached its final stage, and voting will be held on Sunday, February 26. In Kasba, BJP’s Hemant Rasane and Congress’s Ravindra Dhangekar from Mahavikas Aghadi are in a major fight, while in Chinchwad, BJP’s Ashwini Jagtap, NCP’s Vitthal (Nana) Kate from Mahavikas Aghadi and Shiv Sena’s rebel independent candidate Rahul Kalate are fighting.
The Expenditure Monitoring Team consists of officers from the Accounts Department and Income Tax Department. For the by-elections, the campaign expenses of the candidates are being investigated in three phases, namely 15th February, 20th February, and 24th February. The third phase is pending, and only then will it become clear how much the candidates have spent in these two constituencies.
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