New Delhi, July 15: The average spending done by an MLA in Puducherry during the recently concluded elections was Rs 5.12 lakh. Puducherry Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) have analyzed the election expenditure statements submitted after the Puducherry 2016 Assembly Elections for 30 MLAs. The expenditure limit for the candidates during the Puducherry Assembly elections was Rs. 20 lakhs.

Spending data: Candidates have constantly claimed that the election expenditure limit set is very low. However, based on the election expense declarations of 30 MLAs analysed from the 2016 Puducherry Assembly elections to the CEO, 27 MLAs (90%) have declared election expenses of less than 50% of the expense limit in their constituency.

Average Election Expenses: Based on the election expense declarations of 30 MLAs from Puducherry Assembly to the CEO, the average amount of money spent by them in the elections is only about Rs 5.12 lakhs, which is 26% of the expense limit.

Party-wise Average Election Expenses: The party wise average election expenses shows that the average spending for 15 MLAs from INC is Rs 5.48 lakhs (27% of the expense limit), for 8 MLAs from All India N. R. Congress is Rs 4.38 lakhs (22% of the expense limit), for 4 MLAs from AIADMK is Rs 3.52 Lakhs (18% of the expense limit), and for 2 MLAs from DMK is Rs 7.25 Lakhs (36% of the expense limit).

Top 3 MLAs with highest Election Expenses: The maximum expense of about Rs 10.36 lakhs (52% of the expense limit) has been declared by A. Geetha of DMK from Neravy T.R. Pattinam constituency followed by Kamalakannan R of INC from Thirunallar constituency with an expense of Rs 10.17 lakhs (or 51% of the expense limit) and P.R.N. Thirumurugan of All India N.R. Congress from Karaikal North constituency with an expense of Rs 10.13 lakhs (or 51% of the expense limit).

MLAs with lowest Election Expenses: A. Baskar of AIADMK from Mudaliarpet constituency has declared election expenditure of Rs. 1.95 lakhs followed by A. Anbalagan of AIADMK from Oupalam Constituency with election expenses of Rs. 2.14 lakhs and N.S.J. Jayabal Alias Ayyanar of All India N.R. Congress from Kadirgamam Constituency with election expenses of Rs. 2.17 lakhs.