After a heated showdown over the Karhal assembly seat, EC data shows that BJP candidate SP Singh Baghel’s electoral expenses were Rs 2 lakh more than SP president Akhilesh Yadav.
The Karhal assembly seat in Mainpuri is being closely watched owing to a high-stakes contest between Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Minister of State in the Modi cabinet, SP Singh Baghel. An SP bastion, Karhal went to polls in the third phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections. The fate of both candidates is now sealed in electronic voting machines.
Interestingly, it has come to light that Akhilesh Yadav spent significantly less than SP Singh Baghel while campaigning in Karhal. Data on the Election Commission portal shows that the BJP candidate spent Rs 12.84 lakh against the limit of Rs 40 lakh in his election campaign, whereas Akhilesh Yadav expended Rs 10.84 lakh. It is evident that MoS Baghel shelled out Rs 2 lakh more than the SP president.
Uttar Pradesh Excise Minister Ramnaresh Agnihotri leads the electoral expense figures on the Bhogaon seat of Mainpuri district. He has shown an expenditure of Rs 16,29,615 to the Election Commission. In second place is Congress candidate Mamta Rajput who spent Rs 11,33,555. SP candidate Alok Shakya listed Rs 8,13,554 as his campaign expenses. The least expenditure was by Anita, the candidate of the International Party, at a very modest Rs 10,000.
BJP’s Ashu Diwakar was at the forefront of election expenditure by spending Rs 18,70,620 on Kishni seat in Mainpuri district. SP candidate Brijesh Katheria stood second, with a total expenditure of Rs 9,56,033. Congress’s Vineet Narayan Singh came in third by spending Rs 4,99,025.
