A study by the Editors’ Association, Janavignana Vedhika, and Better Andhra Pradesh (BAP) estimates that up to Rs 6900 crore has been spent by all political parties in the recently ended local body elections in the state.
VVR Krishnaraju, the president of the Editors’ Association, said that the estimates were based on campaign, activists management, alcohol and money distribution for voters, and spending on consensus.
Elections were held in 1,31,023 wards including consensus reached panchayats in the state. In each ward, along with YCP, TDP if the other parties are considered as the third party, each party has spent around Rs.1 lakh per ward. With Rs. 3 lakhs for each ward the total estimation reached Rs.3,900 crores.