Wagh-Vishwajeet didn't spend on election meets
PTI, PANAJI | 29 October 2013 13:25 IST
All elected members of Goa Legislative Assembly spent much less than the Election Commission of India's (ECI) guidelines for expenses during the state polls held in March last year.
As per affidavits of expense details submitted by the MLAs, which have been made public by the EC's local office, independent legislator Rohan Khaunte, who contested from Porvorim constituency, had spent the highest - Rs 6.20 lakhs - for the campaign.
The upper limit prescribed by ECI per candidate was Rs 8 lakh and as per the records, none went near the ceiling.
All the winning 21 legislators of BJP spent Rs 2-3 lakhs, while Congress, which witnessed a historical debacle, had its winning candidates spending Rs 3-3.5 lakh, according to the data.
BJP legislator Vishnu Wagh and Vishwajit Rane did not spend a single paisa on holding public meetings, as per their affidavits.
Congress' Pandurang Madkaikar and Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco spent Rs 5.21 lakh and Rs 4.83 lakh respectively, joining the highest spending bracket.
From the ruling benches, BJP MLA Michael Lobo had to shell out Rs 4.04 lakh for his campaign.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, representing Panaji constituency, spent just Rs 2.76 lakhs.
Leader of Opposition Pratapsingh Rane was the least spending MLA by showing an expense of only Rs 1.69 lakh for the campaign.
The 2012 elections saw BJP winning with majority while Congress was reduced to single digit status in the beach state.
These expense figures may impress the Election Commission.
They are hardly going to impress the ordinary Goan Voters.
Goan Voters have been in receipt of between Rs500-Rs 1000/= per each eligible voter and in some instances...if not in cash ..in Kind.
The 2 MLA`s that claim to have spent no money at all, in their Election campaigns are purely deceiving the EC, The Voters and Goa.
If the Election Commission invites voters from each constituency to bare the truth , we will know the actual & true amounts spent by these MLA`s.
For all intent and purpose, these figures have been well massaged by the MLA`s.
In conclusion, it can be deduced that nearly all MLA`s have deceived the EC & have poisoned "SOULS"( in the eyes of God) !!
Vishnu claims he has not spent a Paisa. Ah well !he must be telling the real truth!!!!!
They should have spent more. I am not able to comprehend why they spent so less and some did not spend at all!