Mangaluru : The election expenditure limit for a Lok Sabha candidate is Rs 70 lakh. Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency has 12 contestants, including heavyweights like incumbent MP Shobha Karandlaje (BJP) and arch rival Pramod Madhwaraj (Congress-JDS coalition). Interestingly, all of them together have spent just Rs 66.7 lakh.

The highest spender was Madhwaraj, followed by Shobha. The expenditure reports of candidates were submitted on April 4, 11 and 15. They’re yet to submit reports of expenditure incurred after April 15 and have time till June 23.

Madhwaraj submitted a report that he spent Rs 28.6 lakh, while observers have documented he spent Rs 35.4 lakh. He has been served a notice and asked to explain the difference. Shobha reported that she spent Rs 19.2 lakh but observers pointed out that she has spent Rs 24.1 lakh and has been asked to explain the difference.

If they cannot provide a convincing explanation, election officials will put on record the amount shadow observers have documented. Latest Comment

Spending such a big amount is disclosed, may be not true, but how will they recover after winning can that be found out and published

What happens if a candidate’s expenditure is more than Rs 70 lakh? Senior IAS official Selvamani R, CEO, zilla panchayat, Dakshina Kannada, said if such a person wins, the Election Commission of India can declare it null and void. Also, defeated candidates who spend more than the permitted amount face strictures.