Zeenews Bureau
Ahmedabad: This may surprise you. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi who is a candidate in the upcoming elections in the state will not spend anything on the polls. This is akin to the Assembly elections in 2007. According to a report in the Times of India, the Bhartiya Janata Party will completely fund Modi’s campaign.
As per the estimates of the last elections in Gujarat, the BJP spent Rs 2.30 crore on hiring aircraft for the campaign, 75 percent of which was used by the CM, while the rest was used by senior national leaders.
In contrast, the Congress spent Rs 53 Lakhs on planes and choppers in the state, most of which was used by the central leaders.
As per the data available with the Election Commission, BJP collected donations amounting to Rs 16.55 crore and spent Rs 10.60 crore in the year 2007 and the Congress collected Rs 15.72 crore and spent Rs 15.58 crore.
For the 2012 Gujarat Assembly Elections, the BJP has collected money through its fund raiser called 'Dhan Sangrah'. The main Opposition, the Congress has also said to have collected a large amount through donations. As per estimates, political parties and candidates spend at least ten times more than what is officially declared.
The cap of Rs 12 lakh per candidate in 2007 has been raised to Rs 16 lakh this time around. Voting in Gujarat is scheduled for December 13 and 17.
First Published: Monday, November 19, 2012, 16:37