At Rs 13 lakh, Badal’s poll spend highest in Lambi

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, April 17

In the high-profile Lambi Assembly constituency, which had witnessed a contest between stalwarts of the SAD and the Congress, former CM Parkash Singh Badal spent the highest on his election campaign. His expenditure was Rs 13.13 lakh.

As per details submitted to the election authorities on April 10, Capt Amarinder Singh of the Congress spent Rs 11.5 lakh on his campaign, while AAP’s Jarnail Singh spent Rs 12 lakh.

The Election Commission, after the declaration of results, gives 30 days to all candidates to submit their expenditure details. The Punjab election results were announced on March 11.

Perusal of the records, gathered from sources in the district administration, showed that Badal spent the entire money from his pocket. He neither got the party fund nor a single rupee as donation or loan from any individual. He transferred Rs 15.3 lakh to his election account in four instalments.

In contrast, CM Capt Amarinder got Rs 20 lakh as loan from Balbir Singh Uppal of Khamanon Kalan in Fatehgarh Sahib district. He spent Rs 1.01 lakh from his pocket.

Jarnail received Rs 37.57 lakh as party fund. He was the lone AAP candidate in Muktsar district to have got the party fund. He also received Rs 1.81 lakh as donation from individuals and spent Rs 65,150 from his pocket.

Badal, who won the Lambi seat with a margin of 22,770 votes, spent Rs 9.66 lakh on public meetings and rallies. He shelled out Rs 82,794 on rallies and meetings held by star campaigners, Rs 2.06 lakh on vehicles used for campaigning and Rs 40,200 on campaign done by workers and agents. More than Rs 18,000 was spent on miscellaneous items.

Capt Amarinder spent Rs 3.74 lakh on public meetings and rallies. Besides, he spent Rs 2.03 lakh on rallies and meetings held by star campaigners, Rs 1.05 lakh on campaign material other than that used in public meetings and rallies, Rs 2.5 lakh on vehicles, and Rs 7,500 on campaign done by workers and agents. His miscellaneous expenses were Rs 24,960.

Jarnail, who could not save his security deposit, spent Rs 2.71 lakh on meetings and rallies. He did not spend on rallies conducted by star campaigners, but spent Rs 33,530 on campaign material other than that used in meetings and rallies. Besides, he shelled out Rs 3.95 lakh on vehicles and Rs 10,000 under the ‘miscellaneous’ head. He, however, did not spend on campaign by workers and agents.

None of the three candidates spent on the campaign through print and electronic media, internet, social media and bulk messages on the SMS.

Apart from the three main candidates, Gurmeet Singh Ranghreta of the Punjab Labour Party spent Rs 1.6 lakh on his campaign; Baljinder Singh of the SAD (Amritsar) spent Rs 1.03 lakh; and Manmander Singh of the Apna Punjab Party spent Rs 68,935.