Election Watch – A.P.: Expenditure in Elections

Elections have become the preserve of the ultra-rich in India as expenditure in the recent elections shows with the money spent more than doubling to Rs 60,000 crore, several speakers at a recent Election Watch meeting expressed.

The meeting on “Expenditure in elections and its regulation” was held at the Freedom Fighters Bhavan in Vijayawada on June 18, based on the results of a survey by Centre for Media Studies.

Speaking, on the occasion the CMS Chairman, Sri. N. Bhaskara Rao expressed agony that the working of the EVMs and Election Commission’s attitude has become a nationwide topic and there are no changes notwithstanding the uproar of the media and the civil societies.

Other speakers pointed out to the fact that the politicians got crores of rupees in the form of bonds. People should expect a rise in taxes after elections as the politicians have announced several projects, gifts and promises in order to win the elections. After the speeches, the election survey report has been released.

Sri.Ch. Diwakar Babu, Principal of Siddartha Law College, Sri. M.C. Das, Ch. Babu Rao, Akkineni Chandra Rao, Smt. Narla Malati, Sri. M. Venkateshwara Rao (Sr. Citizen Association), M.V. Anjaneyulu, Trivikram, Y. Nageswara Rao, Karlapati SrinivasaRao and other dignitaries have participated in the discussion.