Looking back at 2014 LS polls in State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 03 2019: Even though there was a tense contest between INC's Thangso Baite and NPF's Soso Lorho in the last Lok Sabha election, with BJP's Gangmumei Kamei coming a close third, the result of the coming Lok Sabha election still hangs in uncertainty as BJP is currently in power in the State.

However, it is also impossible for anyone to predict which political parties will be engaged in a cut throat race for the most votes this time.

On the other hand, most of the expenditure incurred during the last Lok Sabha election in 2014 for Outer (ST), which was contested by 10 candidates, came via the vehicles used by the candidates in campaign, public meetings, rallies etc.

Based on reports of the 16th Lok Sabha election, INC Thangso Baite received 2,96,618 votes, 15,497 more than NPF Soso Lorho who got 2,81,121 votes while Gangmumei Kamei received just 75,815 votes.

At that time, Thangso Baite got the most number of votes in 18 Constituencies (Heirok, Wangjing-Tentha, Khangabok, Wabagai, Kakching Hiyanglam, Sugnu, Jiribam, Saikul, Kangpokpi, Saitu, Nungba, Tipaimukh, Thanlon, Henglep, Churachandpur, Saikot and Singhat) while Soso Lorho got the most number of votes in 9 Constituencies (Chandel, Tengnoupal, Phungyar, Ukhrul, Chingai, Karong, Mao, Tadubi and Tamei).

Gangmumei Kamei was able to get the most number of votes in just one Constituency (Tamenglong).

Based on the expenditure statement submitted by Gangmumei Kamei to the RO, he spent a total of Rs 6,91,351 in expenditure and he personally produced Rs 50,000 .

It was also mentioned that he received around Rs 10 lakh from the party and received around Rs 75,000 from other sources and all in all, he was able to collect a total of Rs 11,25,000 .

On the other hand, NCP Chungkhokai Doungel spent Rs 86,89,919 as expenditure and as election fund he was able to collect Rs 47,54,060 .

INC's Thangso Baite received Rs 27,76,238 as election fund and he spent 27,76,230 as expenditure.

JD(U) Lien Gangte received 14,90,600 as election funds which were all used as expenditure.

NPF Soso Lorho also spent all of his 25,18,313 election funds as expenditures while AITC's Kim Gangte used Rs 17,44,155 out of the total election fund of Rs 30,70,000 as expenditure.

On the other hand, based on the report, Independent candidate Mani Charanamei spent Rs 24,27,000 as expenditure out of the total election fund of Rs 25,79,500 .

As per the ECI norms, a candidate can spend a maximum of Rs 70 lakh as expenditure but till date, no candidate has spent this much during the election.

In the 16th Lok Sabha election, a total of Rs 3870 crore was spent as expenditure in the State as per the ECI report, which is around three times more than the amount which was spent during the 15th Lok Sabha election.

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