Erode Formula introduced in Erode East

On the line of Thirumangalam Formula,  Erode Formula was introduced in the ongoing Erode East bypoll in which each woman voter in many wards in Karungalpalayam and Veerappanchathram areas etc were given stainless steel kudams and coconut to welcome the dignitaries by standing on roadside for the past one week. 

It is called 'Poorna Kumbam Mariyathai' (reception) to the dignitaries. Significantly, the kudam has a token and if the women submitted it to the local booth party functionaries  Rs 500 is said to be  given. Besides, Rs 300 is also said to be given as advance in some wards.  Only those who showed voter ID card of the booth were given the kudam, worth Rs 100, and asked to take part 

Candidate or party

in the procession alongwith dignitaries' poll campaign on the streets daily. In many booths, women and men voters showed much interest to take part in the campaign for getting money daily. To assemble them, each ward has many makeshift election depots without the name of the candidate or party.   The depot erection cost, rent of the place, chair, table, light etc would cost thousands of rupees daily. If the party banners or flags were kept there,  such expenditure would be added in the poll expenditure account of the candidate. 

The EC has hiked the expenditure ceiling for the MLA poll  from Rs 28 lakhs to Rs 40 lakh for a candidate in this bypoll.   Many VIPs, present and former local body leaders, MLAs and MPs were camping in Erode. Each dignitary is managing 3 booths. So,  the present campaign indicated, the expenditure could be several crores of rupees for the so-called VIPs who considered the victory in the poll is a prestigious issue as many voters were unhappy over the authorities failure in solving various problems in the segment.