EC reports show parties spent more than their income

Both the AIADMK and the DMK were among the top three spenders among regional parties in the country during 2016-17. The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which analysed audited reports submitted by 32 regional parties to the Election Commission, came up with the findings on Tuesday.

According to the ADR, all four regional parties of the State reported lesser incomes in 2016-17 compared to the previous year. All four also spent more than their respective incomes during 2016-17. While the AIADMK received the third-highest income in the country after the SP and the TDP, the AIADMK and the DMK followed the SP when it came to expenditure.

The DMK, which had reported the third-highest income in the country during 2015-16, reported a 95.13% fall in revenue the next year. Subsequently, it spent ₹81.88 crore more than its income during 2016-17. The DMK told the EC that 94.62% of its expenditure in 2016-17 was ‘deficit from specific funds.’

A large chunk of the income and expenditure of the AIADMK were related to elections: 70.96% of its income was because of ‘local body elections’, which are yet to be held, and 27.64%, from interest on bank deposits. Of the AIADMK’s expenses, 74.61% went towards ‘elections’ while 21.08% was allocated for ‘family benevolent fund payments and medical relief payments.’

Unlike most other regional parties that have cited donations as a major source of income, the AIADMK and the DMK have not mentioned a source at all. The SP reported that 50.33% of its income came in as donations; for the Shiv Sena, it was 86.82% of the income.