Students of SG Women’s College enjoy a panipuri treat organised by a candidate in Rourkela. Picture by Uttam Kumar Pal

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 2: Feasts for supporters and treats for potential voters have become a quintessential part of canvassing for campus polls and when there’s a spending limit of Rs 5,000, candidates, it seems, just cannot afford to be austere.

Going by an average assessment, presidential candidates of prominent city colleges would each have a fat bill in hand, overshooting the prescribed limit by at least five times for a fortnight-long campaign.

According to recommendations of the Lyngdoh Commission, which was implemented seven years ago, apart from a restriction on expenses, there is a ban on printed posters and pamphlets as well as erecting hoardings and banners on campuses.

Though the objective was to tone down money and muscle power in campus polls, Lyngdoh’s guidelines are hardly adhered to.

With elections scheduled for October 8, the campaigning has reached a feverish pitch. Candidates, especially those who have political backing, are not thinking twice before splurging to woo voters.

“Rs 5,000 is just not enough. If we put up four standard-sized hoardings near the campus, that alone comes to Rs 3,000. Then we have to provide tiffin packets to friends and juniors, who accompany us for campaigning. Not to mention goodies for our voters and feasts for hostel boarders,” said an aspirant of Ramadevi Women’s Autonomous College.

According to this aspirant’s calculations, the major expenditure involves hoardings and banners, door-to-door campaigning and feasts on occasions like “What I Stand For” meeting.

“For a weeklong home campaigning, we cover 10km everyday on a minimum of six to seven two-wheelers. The fuel cost per two-wheeler is Rs 100 a day and accordingly, it works out to Rs 4,900 for a week. Include two feasts for 150 students and you will have a bill of Rs 15,000,” said a candidate of BJB Autonomous College, who did not wish to be named.

In another innovative way to strike a chord with fellow students, aspirants in some colleges are offering mobile phone recharge vouchers, coupons for hangouts and even movie tickets. In other colleges, trips to amusement parks and free entry to parties are being showered.

“We try our best to keep a tab on such extravagance which are in violation of election rules. But it is not possible every time, especially when they do it off-campus,” said an official, who is in-charge of elections at BJB College.