Uddhav Thackeray-Led MVA Govt Spent Rs 155 Crore On Publicity Campaigns In Past 16 Months: Report

Chief Minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray led tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra spent Rs 155 crore on publicity campaigns over 16 months from 11 December 2019 to 12 March 2021, reports India today.

The figure was shared by the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations in response to an RTI request filed by RTI activist Anil Galgali. Galgali had sought details of various expenditures incurred on the campaigns since the formation of the MVA Government.

As per reports, the Maharastra government had been spending ₹9.6 crores each month on publicity campaigns. About ₹5.99 crores have been spent by the Maha Viks Agahadi on social media during the 16-month period.

It should be noted that while the MVA Government spent Rs 20.31 crore in 2019, its 26 departments spent Rs 104.5 crore on publicity campaigns in 2020. Also, till 12 March 2021 this year, 12 departments of the MVA Government had already spent as much as Rs 29.79 crore.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that as per Galgali, the figure could be higher as the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations does not have 100 per cent information. He has thus written a letter to CM Thackeray demanding that the Government should upload the expenditure incurred at the departmental level, the nature of the expenditure and the name of the beneficiary on the website.

"We are receiving information that the state government of Maharashtra is spending Rs 246 crores on publicity. We demand proper investigations in the matter. In our tenure, we spent only Rs 26 crores on publicity. Here the government has already spent Rs 246 crores on publicity. What work have they done to spend so much on publicity?" said Devendra Fadnavis.