BJP leader Gopinath Munde replies to Election Commission notice on election expenditure

BJP leader Gopinath Munde claimed on Friday that his remarks at a public function, about having spent Rs 8 crore in the 2009 Lok Sabha poll, was merely a "figurative expression" to show how election campaigns have become expensive, and should not be taken literally.

The Election Commission (EC) had sent a notice seeking an explanation from Munde, after his statement at a recent public function here that he had spent Rs 8 crore for his last parliament campaign, which is more than the prescribed limit.

In his reply to the EC notice, Munde claimed he was merely speaking about how elections have become very expensive and that is the reason behind generation of black money in the economy, sources close to him said.

Munde had also received a notice from the Income Tax Department asking him to explain the income of Rs 8 crore which he said, he had spent on his campaign.