YSRCP's candidate Chevireddy's election expenditure under scanner?

Tirupati: Chandragiri sitting MLA and YSRCP candidate Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy continued to be in limelight. After getting succeeded in fulfilling his demand for repoll in five polling stations, now he is in news for his election expenditure. He arranged a tour to Shirdi for his followers from Chandragiri in a special train. The train left Chandragiri on May 16 and will return back on May 19.

It is learnt that he has booked the train on his wife's name. It has 21 coaches and about 1,500 people have travelled in it. It was estimated that they have to pay more than Rs.30 lakhs to railways towards the cost of engaging special train. Railways charge the organisers under full tariff rate for the number of coaches booked.

They need to pay for the empty rake also for coming from Secunderabad to Chandragiri and back. Apart from this expenditure, for all the passengers food, accommodation, liquor and other things were provided. With all these the cost might have crossed Rs.50 lakhs, it is learnt.

When election code is still in vogue, arranging such a tour has become a big surprise in political circles. Answering a question during a press meet, the District Collector PS Pradyumna has said that the returning officer of the constituency will enquire the matter if he receives a complaint.