Civic polls: Food costs hike candidates’ bills

Candidates are pumping money into their campaigns in full earnest. This expenditure would boost the local economy by Rs2,500 crore, according to one estimate.

The day of any candidate begins and ends with expenditure on supporters. According to an estimate, a prominent candidate spends  Rs5 to 10 lakh daily on petrol, food and labour for a rally and door-to-door campaign.

A candidate shared details on condition of anonymity. “We take 200 to 300 supporters whenever we go to meet voters. The number goes up five times in case of foot march and rally.”

To keep supporters happy, candidates have booked caterers and dining halls. “We serve chicken or mutton biryani at nights and if needed, liquor too,” said a candidate, adding that candidate spends Rs2 to 3 crore during the campaign.

Another candidate said, “I have been working for 10 years as corporator. My voters know me well, so I need not spend much.  Candidates contesting for the first time have to spend more.”

Committee member of Pune Broilers Association, Rupesh Pardeshi said, “On weekdays, the demand for chicken is 200 tonnes and on Sundays, 400 tonnes. In this election period, the demand on weekdays is 250 tonnes and on Sundays, 600 tonnes.”

He said the sudden rise in demand has hiked prices by Rs20 per kg.

General secretary of Pune Mutton Dukandar Association, Machhindra Kamble said, “On Sundays, the demand for mutton is 40,000 kg and on weekdays 10,000 kg.”