The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Saju Paul ran least expensive poll campaign

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Thursday, Jun 23, 2011
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Kerala - Kochi

Saju Paul ran least expensive poll campaign

Staff Reporter

Candidates file statements of expenditure with District Collector

Muvattupuzha MLA ran the costliest campaign
19 independent candidates yet to file statements

KOCHI: Among the winning candidates from the 14 constituencies in the district in the recently held Assembly elections, Saju Paul, Perumbavoor MLA, had spent the least on his campaign, while the Muvattupuzha MLA, Joseph Vazhakkan, ran the costliest campaign. They spent Rs. 7.54 lakh and Rs. 12.90 lakh respectively.

While candidates of major parties and fronts in the district have had filed their statement of campaign expenditure with the District Collector, 19 independent candidates were yet to file it. All candidates from Kunnathunadu, Piravom, and Muvattupuzha Assembly constituencies have filed the campaign expenditure.

Tripunithura MLA and Excise Minister K. Babu was second in the list of winning candidates to have spent the least.

According to his statement, he had spent only Rs. 7.57 lakh. His opponent C.M. Dinesh Mani from the Left Democratic Front spent even less, Rs. 6.49 lakh.

Among the candidates from either fronts, the LDF candidate from Kunnathunadu Assembly constituency, M.A. Surendran, spent the least; Rs. 5.57 lakh.

Kalamassery MLA and Public Works Minister V.K. Ibrahim Kunju was the third in the list among the winning candidates to spend less on the campaign. He spent Rs. 8.33 lakh. His LDF rival K. Chandran Pillai spent Rs. 10.60 lakh.

UDF candidate in Perumbavoor Jaison Joseph spent Rs. 6.79 lakh. In Angamaly, the winning LDF candidate spent Rs. 10.64 lakh compared to Rs. 9.65 lakh spent by his UDF rival Johny Nelloor. Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath had to shell out Rs. 10.35 lakh to be on the winning side whereas his LDF rival A.M. Yousuf spent only Rs. 6.84 lakh. Paravur MLA V.D. Satheeshan's hard earned victory cost him Rs. 11.15 lakh, while his LDF opponent Pannian Raveendran spent Rs. 9.64 lakh in putting up a fight.

In Vytilla, S. Sarma's successful campaign cost him Rs. 10.90 lakh as against Rs. 8.46 lakh by his UDF rival Ajay Tharayil.

Dominic Presentation romped home unleashing a campaign that cost him Rs. 10.66 lakh, while his LDF rival M.C. Josephine spent Rs. 9.45 lakh.

Though the LDF independent candidate Sebastian Paul lost to his UDF rival Hibi Eden by a big margin, the former had an upper hand in terms of campaign expenditure. Mr. Paul spent Rs. 10.81 lakh to Rs. 10.38 lakh spent by Mr. Eden.

Benny Behanan's victory from the newly-formed Thrikkakara constituency was at a cost of Rs. 10.89 lakh while his LDF rival M.E. Hassainar led a relatively low profile campaign going by the expenditure of Rs. 6.06 lakh he incurred. In Kunnathunadu, UDF's winning candidate V.P. Sajeendran shelled out Rs. 10.04 lakh.

In Piravom, the winning UDF candidate and Minister for Food T.M. Jacob spent Rs. 10.10 lakh, while his opponent spent Rs. 8.88 lakh.

In Muvattupuzha, the losing LDF candidate Babu Paul spent Rs. 7.38 lakh. The winning UDF candidate from Kothamangalam T.U. Kuruvilla had by spending Rs. 12.04 lakh gave a scare to his UDF counterpart from Muvattupuzha in the race for running the costliest campaign. LDF candidate from Kothamangalam Skaria Thomas spent Rs. 11.16 lakh.

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