Imphal: Most of the elected MLAs of the recently held elections in Manipur showed highly inflated expenditure statements as per a report released by Youth Collective Manipur (YCM) and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
YCM coordinator, Thongam Zingo said addressing the media here that the elected MLAs are supposed to submit their election expenditure statement to their concerned District Election Officers within 30 days from the declaration of the election results.
The lowest expenditure stated to have been incurred was by Dr Yumnam Radheshyam Singh, of BJP who spent just Rs 3,94,642 while the highest expenditure was by another BJP MLA Sorokhaibam Rajen Singh who spent Rs 22,14,206. The maximum amount that a candidate can spend was Rs 28 lakhs.
The average amount spent partywise was Indian National Congress Rs 15.81 lakhs, Bharatiya Janata Party Rs 14.57 lakhs, Kuki People’s Alliance Rs 13.23 lakhs, Janata Dal (United) Rs 12.95 lakhs, Naga People’s Front Rs 10.77 lakhs, National People Party Rs 8.18 lakhs and Independent Rs 7.26 lakhs.
As per the declarations by the MLAs 53pc MLAs have declared that they have spent funds on public meetings, processions etc. with star campaigners and 47pc MLAs have declared that they have not spent any funds on public meetings, processions etc. with star campaigners.
Another 23pc MLAs have declared that they have spent funds on campaigning through electronic/print media and 77pc MLAs have declared that they have not spent any funds on campaigning through electronic/print media.
Out of the total funds received by MLAs, 58pc funds were raised from political parties, 26pc were raised by MLAs themselves and 16pc funds were raised from other sources.
