Poll expense limit unrealistic

 CHENNAI: Candidates, cutting across party lines, have scoffed at the expenses limit prescribed by the State Election Commission. A candidate contesting the corporation elections, on an average, spends more than Rs 30,000 per day approximately and the ceiling amount of Rs 56,000 prescribed by SEC is far too unrealistic, they said and added that with the rising inflation and rise in fuel prices, it was unrealistic to go by its directive. Candidates of various parties confided in Express that they had already spent beyond the ceiling amount fixed by the State Election Commission and added that the amount was not enough to contest the local body elections.“On an average we spend more than Rs 5,000 on food per day on campaigning, besides Rs 2,000 for autos for day-to-day campaigning,” said a candidate, who did not want to be identified. “We also spend Rs 800 per day for sound service and an additional Rs 1,000 for petrol. The other expenses include vehicular expenses for party supporters who number around 200, including women,” said another candidate.Interestingly, in order to have adequate manpower, a candidate spends  Rs 150 to Rs 200 on a supporter. On an average, a candidate will not have less than 100 supporters and will have to spend about Rs 15,000 on that count.Also, the cost escalation in spending this year is mostly due to the availability of funds per ward. Initially, a ward was allotted Rs 30 lakh per year asdevelopment fund, but now there is a plan to revise it to Rs 50 lakh following the expansion of the city.  And candidates are said to be eyeing a share in the fund.