Chennai: In an election expenditure affidavit filed by DMK before the Election Commission it was revealed that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by M.K Stalin had donated Rs.15 crores each to its allied CPI and Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK) and Rs. 10 crores to the CPI(M) during the last parliamentary elections.
Chennai: In an election expenditure affidavit filed by DMK before the Election Commission it was revealed that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by M.K Stalin had donated Rs.15 crores each to its allied CPI and Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK) and Rs. 10 crores to the CPI(M) during the last parliamentary elections.
The CPI and CPI(M) on Monday said that there was nothing unusual in receiving donations from DMK for election expenditure. As per the affidavit filed by DMK on August 27, 2019, DMK showed an expenditure of Rs. 79.26 crores of which Rs. 40 crores were given to the three parties - CPI, CPI (M) and KMDK.
“We collected money throughout the State and spent the amount for election. We have submitted the expenditure to the Election Commission. We have not suppressed anything. Everything is done in an transparent manner,” said CPI(M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan according to The Hindu.
CPI State Secretary R. Mutharasan said that it was usual for the alliance parties to help each other during the election and it was not any scam money.
It is to be noted that the CPI and CPI(M) were allotted two seats in the Lok Sabha polls while KMDK was allotted one seat and all the three parties emerged victorious from all the seats.
When pointed out that the affidavit filed by the CPI(M) before the Election Commission had not made any reference to the amount given by the DMK, Balakrishnan said the State unit had sent all details to the central committee of the party, and it might be reflected in the next affidavit.
In its affidavit, the CPI(M) had said the expenditure across the country was around Rs. 7.2 crore. "I think affidavits will be filed stage by stage. Every transaction is done through bank, and nothing is suppressed," Balakrishnan said.
When questioned, DMK Spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan described it as "routine and usual" thing for parties to fund its alliances.
DMK had spent a total of Rs.58,93,994 for M.K. Stalin, its President and "star campaigner". The amount was mostly for air travel during the campaign, the party confirmed.
The expenses for propaganda through media was Rs. 15,46,14,693. The party claimed that it had spent Rs 50 Lakh each on its Lok Sabha candidates and Rs. 25 lakh each on Assembly by election candidates.