States bypolls cost Rs 15 crore

BANGALORE: About Rs 15 crore of public money has been spent on 20 by-polls, including the ongoing Koppal elections in the state, in a short span of just three-and-half years.The ruling BJP’s dubious Operation Lotus is the major reason behind such a spending of public money.Of the 20 bypolls, 14 have been necessitated by this while the remaining are either due to the death of MLAs or MLAs who have resigned to enter the Lok Sabha.Conducting elections means a huge expenditure for the state’s exchequer.Even at a conservative estimation, election to each constituency will cost no less than `50 to 70 lakh.“Printing of ballot papers, deployment of police forces and other government staff for poll duty and their allowances and transportation, etc, involves huge expenditure,” said officials in the state Election Commission (EC).The EC sources also maintain that Karnataka is probably the first state to witness such a large number of by-polls in one Assembly term.After falling short of four seats from the simple majority in the 224-member Assembly, the BJP discovered a unique but controversial method to lower the strength of Opposition MLAs by making them resign and contest elections through the BJP ticket.Though there was a big hue and cry by Opposition members against Operation Lotus, the ruling BJP reaped a rich dividend through this exercise.It won eight of the 13 by-polls while Congress and JD(S) managed to win three and two seats, respectively.BJP started Operation Lotus with an aim to provide stability to the government, but later it became a political weapon in its hands to weaken and settle scores with Opposition parties.