September 14, 2023
2 mins read

‘Synchronised Polls Will Cost Nearly Rs 10L Crore’

N. Bhaskara Rao, a researcher specializing in public policy analysis, ₹ 10 lakh crore is the estimate for holding Lok Sabha, assembly and local body polls (panchayats, zila parishad, municipalities) together, news agency PTI reported…reports Asian Lite News

In the midst of a discussion about conducting elections simultaneously, a recent study published on Tuesday has estimated that the overall cost of elections, from Lok Sabha to local bodies, amounts to ₹10 lakh crore. This substantial expenditure could potentially be reduced by ₹3-5 lakh crore if the voting period were shortened to just one week and political parties rigorously adhered to the model code of conduct.

The study projects that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections will incur an expenditure of approximately ₹1.20 lakh crore, with the Election Commission expected to cover only a meager “20 percent” of this sum. Notably, this estimation excludes expenses related to new electronic voting machines.

N. Bhaskara Rao, a researcher specializing in public policy analysis, ₹ 10 lakh crore is the estimate for holding Lok Sabha, assembly and local body polls (panchayats, zila parishad, municipalities) together, news agency PTI reported.

It’s essential to highlight that the entire election budget is not solely funded by the central and state governments; political parties also contribute significantly through candidate expenses and campaign costs. In fact, campaigning often commences well before the official election schedule is announced. However, parties are only legally obligated to disclose their election expenses to the Election Commission from the date of poll announcement until the completion of the election process.

While there are spending limits imposed on individual candidates during their campaigns, no such restrictions exist for political parties. For instance, during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, political parties collectively amassed ₹6,400 crore in funds but expended only ₹2,600 crore.

According to Rao’s calculations, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections could reach ₹1.20 lakh crore, and if all assembly elections were held simultaneously, the expenditure could rise to ₹3 lakh crore, taking into account nearly 4,500 assembly seats nationwide. Additionally, he estimated that conducting all municipal elections concurrently would cost around ₹1 lakh crore, involving nearly 500 municipal seats across the country. Similarly, for zila parishads (650 seats), mandals (7,000 seats), and village (gram) panchayats (250,000 seats), the estimated cost of elections stands at ₹4.30 lakh crore.

Rao emphasizes that simply holding simultaneous elections will not substantially reduce election expenses; instead, cost reduction hinges on the campaign practices of political parties, the efficiency of the Election Commission, and the strict adherence of parties to the model code of conduct. He believes that implementing a “one-week poll” and rationalizing the election schedule without multiple phases could be instrumental in reducing costs. This approach would primarily cut down expenses related to travel, printing, media campaigns, and booth-level logistics.

Nevertheless, Rao underscores that without addressing issues like “vote buying” or voter inducement, election expenditure is unlikely to see significant reductions. As a veteran in the field, Rao, who previously headed the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), has authored several books on elections and election spending.

ALSO READ-Pakistan’s caretaker PM assures US of free, fair polls

Previous Story

UAE-India Ties Flourish Across Multiple Sectors: Al Kaabi

Next Story

Mamata Meets Sri Lankan President in Dubai

Latest from -Top News

Yunus Govt Faces Heat Over ‘Black Law’

The protest led by the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Unity Forum threatened to intensify their actions if the demands were not addressed…reports Asian Lite News Several officials and employees at Bangladesh’s

Moscow Pulls Plug on Defence Deal with Berlin

Moscow accused the German leadership of “deliberately ideologically processing” the population of Germany in an anti-Russian vein…reports Asian Lite News Russia announced on Thursday its intention to withdraw from the 1996 military-technical

India Joins Deep-Sea Elite

The Samudrayaan mission aligns with the Indian government’s Blue Economy initiative, which focuses on sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth…reports Asian Lite News After conquering space with the successful Space

Goyal’s Bold Bet: UK Pact Will Unlock Billions

Goyal referred to the FTA as a ”good marriage” agreed between both countries, which would lead to doubling bilateral trade over the next five years….reports Asian Lite News Union Commerce and Industry

Hamburg to go full desi mode

Themed “Positioning Partnerships”, this year’s ‘India Week Hamburg’ will spotlight the growing synergy between India and Germany across key sectors including business, culture, society, and knowledge. The German port city of Hamburg
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Limitless Luxe Noida: Where Luxury Meets Unparalleled Experiences

Limitless Luxe Noida, is a destination for luxury and extravagance.

Nepal, India agree completion of Pancheshwar Project report  

The project is a major arm of the Mahakali Treaty