Rs 60 cr spent for LS & Assembly elections in district

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The administration had to spend funds between Rs 60 crore and 65 crore for the Lok Sabha (LS) and Assembly elections held last year.

There were approximately 3,000 polling stations in the district for both the elections. The average expenditure of each polling station which accommodation, food, pandals and water supply, was Rs 2 lakh.

The average expenditure on each polling station is Rs 1 lakh for the LS elections while for Assembly elections is also the same. Sources informed that the verification of this expenditure will be completed by March 31.

The total expenses of both elections are between Rs 60 crore and Rs 65 crore. This included the allowance of election staff at around Rs 20 crore. The remaining amount will have administrative and facilities expenses.

The Lok Sabha elections were held in April-May 2024. The Assembly elections were conducted in October-November 2024. A total of 36 candidates were in the fray for the LS while 183 candidates contested Assembly elections in the district. There were around 32.2 lakh voters in the Assembly.

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Money spent on elections

The LS elections cost Rs 40 crore. Of this, Rs 15 crore to 16 crore was spent on the pandal. Around Rs 20 crore was spent on the Assembly elections. This includes the pandals and facilities.

Constituency--Polling station--Average expenditure

Sillod ............... 406 ................. 8 crores

Kannad........... 368 .................... 7 crores

Phulambri .........372 .................. 7 crores

Aurangabad Central.. 320 .......... 6 crores

Aurangabad West ..... 401 .......... 8 crores

Aurangabad East ..... 330 ........... 6.5 crores

Paithan ..... ...........351 ............. 7 crores

Gangapur ............. 372 ............. 7 crores

Vaijapur .............. 353 ............. 7 crores

Total .................. 3273 ........... 63.50 crores

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Facilities at polling stations

Health workers were deployed at the stations. Drinking water and wheelchairs for senior voters and the disabled were also provided. Pandals were established to provide shade for the voters. Facilities were provided at all the polling stations in the district.

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40 K employees

Around 40,000 employees, including the police force, were appointed on honorarium for both elections. A total of 3,000 vehicles including buses and autorickshaws for senior voters, were used.