The Election Commission has estimated that over ₹500 crore has been spent in the State for conducting the Lok Sabha election to 28 parliamentary constituencies this time.
This is a steep increase from the previous election. In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the expenditure was ₹320.16 crore at over ₹11 crore per parliamentary constituency. In 2019, the cost per constituency is ₹17 crore.
“With price rise and inflation, the cost of poll machinery and infrastructure has seen a steep rise. The total cost is estimated to cross ₹500 crore this time,” Sanjiv Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), told The Hindu on Saturday.
A major chunk of the ₹500 crore was spent on procurement of EVM batteries and rolls for printing of voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips.
That apart, expenditure incurred on remuneration of polling personnel and election observers, transport arrangements (including arranging vehicles for voters with disabilities), preparation of electoral rolls and polling stations, and conducting voter awareness campaigns is a major component, the CEO said.
Elaborating on the reasons for the hike, the CEO said voter awareness campaigns, distribution of voter slips ahead of the election date, and use of VVPAT (that began for the first time in 2014 Lok Sabha polls) have further pushed up the expenditure.
Moreover, the voter population increased from 4.6 crore in 2014 to 5.1 crore this year. The number of polling booths too have gone up from 54,264 in 2014 to 58,186 this year and the related expenditure to provide poll consumables and infrastructure has gone up considerably, he added.
This is apart from what is spent by various departments on deployment of their staff and overhead costs. Of the total 66 departments that are involved in the electioneering process, the Home Ministry’s expenses are the highest. The cost of deploying Central paramilitary forces and other security forces is borne by the Home Ministry.
The entire expenditure on actual conduct of elections to Lok Sabha is borne by the Centre. But, expenditure towards law and order maintenance is taken care of by the State government, he said.
