CHENNAI: TVK has shown an expenditure of Rs 19.8 crore for the 2026 assembly election, during which it contested 233 seats and won 108, subsequently forming an alliance govt. In comparison, DMK reported poll expenditure of Rs 197.8 crore and AIADMK Rs 112.4 crore.In its filing with EC, TVK said Rs 3.5 crore was spent on its CM candidate Vijay’s air travel and Rs 40 lakh in Perambur and Trichy East, the two constituencies he contested in.The expenditure statement, signed by party treasurer P Venkataramanan, showed Rs 19.4 crore being spent on general election propaganda. It shows zero expenses on candidates, implying the nominees had to bear the expenses of their campaigns.The statement lists four aircraft-related payments (for Vijay’s travel) made between March 14 and April 28 to TAI Jets Pvt Ltd, Chipsan Aviation Pvt Ltd and Fly High Global Aircraft Management Services Pvt Ltd. No expenditure was reported on the travel of other functionaries.It shows no spending on virtual campaigning through social media. The largest component of the party’s general propaganda expenditure — Rs 6.3 crore — was on media advertising, including print, electronics media and radio.This includes payment of Rs 1.79 crore made to (now minister) Aadhav Arjuna’s Voice of Common Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd. The party spent Rs 2.1 crore on public meetings and roadshows, and Rs 40.5 lakh on publicity material, listed as “books”.TVK’s expenditure statement said the party had an opening balance of Rs 3 crore at the time elections were announced while its poll-period receipts amounted to Rs 7 crore. EC recognized TVK as a state party on Sept 10.
