While the average figure was around Rs 70 lakhs, this year's expenditure was Rs 50 lakhs, despite the inclusion of such devices as protective tin-sheds on booths in the expenses, he said. Inflated catering bills had been detected in Jetpurpavi and Padra, he said, but added that preliminary reports attributed it to the ``quite sensitive'' poll battle between the two major political parties.

Officials claimed that extra expenditure of over Rs 2 lakh was incurred as this year they had opted to set up temporary offices instead of the usual practice of occupying some institution belonging to workers of either political parties.