Pune: Opposition Alleges Money Distribution Among Kasba Assembly By-Election Candidates

Pune, 25th February 2023: The election campaign for the Kasba Assembly by-election is now over, and the voting and its result are awaited. As allegations of money distribution continue to surface, opposition parties have accused each other of this malpractice.

Meanwhile, a surprising revelation has come to light, which shows that 16 candidates in the election spent only Rs 25 lakh 97 thousand 427 during the campaign, indicating a vast gap between the actual expenditure and the mandated ceiling.

Among the official candidates, Congress’s Ravindra Dhangekar spent Rs. 11, 60, 029, while Hemant Rasane of the BJP spent Rs. 8, 94, 176, both falling significantly short of the election expenditure ceiling of Rs. 40 lakh.
The Election Inspector has been conducting three stages of verification of each candidate’s expenditure in the presence of candidates and election officials.

According to Nanda Handal, who is responsible for the campaign expenses in the constituency, the verification has been completed as per the Election Inspector’s instructions.

The expenditure figures are as follows:
Ravindra Dhangekar, Congress, Rs. 11, 60, 029
Hemant Rasane, BJP, Rs. 8, 94, 176
Anand Dave, Independent, Rs. 1, 45, 719
Baljit Singh Kochhar, Praripa, Rs. 78,000
Santosh Chaudhary, Independent, Rs. 75, 889
Tukaram Daphal, Saispa, Rs. 29,177
Rabindra Vedapathak, Rampa, Rs. 41, 020
Ajit Ingle, Independent, Rs. 5,353
Anil Hatagale, Independent, Rs. 26, 309
Abhijit Awade-Bichukle, Independent, Rs. 5,300
Amol Tujare, Independent, Rs. 11,333
Khisal Jafri, Independent, Rs. 37,500
Chandrakant Mote, Independent, Rs. 5,656
Riaz Syed, Independent, Rs. 28,000
Suresh Kumar Oswal, Independent, Rs. 30,270
Hussain Shaikh, Independent, Rs. 23,801