Polls To Cost India Rs 3,500 Crore This Year

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CHENNAI: The Election Commission has estimatedthat the 2014 Lok Sabha elections will costthe exchequer Rs 3,500 crore. That’s about 150%more than the amount spent for the 2009 polls(Rs 1,400 crore). This does not include theexpenses incurred for security and the amountpolitical parties will spend.”Every state will send the expenditure statementsto the Centre for reimbursement. The Union lawministry will peruse the statements and reimbursethe states. The EC’s preliminary estimate for thisLok Sabha election is around Rs 3,500 crore. Thefinal amount may be more or less,” an EC officialsaid on condition of anonymity.The costs have gone up since 2009 due to inflationand the EC running a number of awarenesscampaigns. Over the last few years, it has beentrying to draw more voters, digitise electoral rollsand prevent buying of votes, especially in TamilNadu and Andhra Pradesh, said the official. “Theexpenses have increased in the last five years. Sixmonths before polling, EC starts campaignsacross the country asking peopleto enroll. We release advertisements,visit places and stage streetplays. After the rolls are finalised,they are digitised,” he said.Other expenses include payment of honorariumto officials who are involved in election relatedwork. “The officials are paid for attending trainingsessions and for their travel. We also conductcampaigns and videograph polling and campaignsof political parties. These measures haveincreased the expenses manifold in recent times,”the official said. Another major expense is preventingparties from distributing cash to voters.This is prevalent in Tamil Nadu and AP, he said.The first general election held in 1952 cost theexchequer Rs 10.45 crore. The parliamentaryelection in India is the biggest democratic exercisein the world.Security expenses are borne bythe respective state governments during the LokSabha elections, said Tamil Nadu chief electoralofficer Praveen Kumar. “The expenses are on therise due to increasing use of electronic equipment.We use technology from the stage ofenrolling voters to the counting exercise. Thehonorarium paid to officials is rising for everyelection,” he said.