Polls may cost state govt Rs 150 crore

The cost of holding Assembly polls in Gujarat in two phases in December this year is expected to be around Rs 150 crore, nearly 50% more than Rs 103 crore that was spent during the 2007 Assembly elections, an election official said.

"Though the final figures of the expenditure for conducting Assembly elections this year will be known only after polls are over, the state government has allocated Rs 129 crore for the same. However, the total cost is expected to cross Rs 150 crore," an official in the office of state's Chief Electoral Officer said.

"The expenses will be borne by the state government from its exchequer and the Election Commission of India, which pays the salaries of the permanent staff at CEO's office and expenses related to preparation of photo electoral rolls of voters. The Rs 150-crore estimate does not include the ECI's grant."

Sources said the estimated Rs 150-crore figure includes remuneration for the staff deployed for from different government departments, logistical expenses like movement of staff, equipment, electronic voting machines, etc.

Around one lakh staff are to be deployed at polling booths, besides the deployment of policemen.

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