The Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency has been in the news for the past few days after about 175 farmers filed their nominations, as a mark of protest alleging that the ruling TRS has done nothing for them. The mass nominations has taken the poll cost up to Rs 35 crore — which is more than the average expenditure
Hyderabad: With 185 candidates in the fray for the Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat, the arrangements in the constituency alone has cost Rs 35 crore which is Rs 15 crore more than the average expenditure.
The information was given out by the chief electoral officer Rajat Kumar, who said that the average spend for each of the seven Assembly segments in the constituency was about Rs three crore, making it a total of Rs 21 crore.
However, in view of the large number of contestants in Nizamabad, they expect the constituency would need an additional Rs 15 crore.
A senior official associated with the polls said the expenditure for Nizamabad is in addition to the procurement cost of a large number of Electronic Voting Machines (Ballot Units (BUs), Control Units (CUs) and VVPATs) that are required.
This expenditure is borne by the election commission.
One helicopter would be kept ready exclusively for emergencies, if any, and claimed it was the first time in the world that the polls would be held using EVMs with such a large number of candidates.
“In terms of financial implications, the major component of expenditure will be on travelling allowances and dearness allowances of polling officials. There will be some additional expenditure in terms of publicity and organising awareness campaigns,” an official said.
Earlier, Nizamabad was believed to go the ballot paper way on the day of the polls. However, the Election Commission of India has decided that 12 EVMs will be given.
Venkatesh, PRO of the Election Commission in Hyderabad said, “12 EVMs will be given and each has provision for 16 names. Voters can choose from 185 candidates and one for NOTA.”
He also added that all candidates have been allotted symbols.
The Election Commission is using M3 type EVMs, which can support up to 24 BUs. Each BU will have 24 names.
The Election Commission had earlier instructed the CEO to place order for 26,820 BUs, 2,240 CUs and 2,600 VVPATs of M3 make for Nizamabad.
Kumar said the EC normally deploys 15 to 16 engineers in a constituency for troubleshooting, but it would be 600 in Nizamabad.
He said the EC norm was to have one magistrate for every 10 polling stations, but this number would double in the constituency with one for every five polling stations.
Kumar said voter awareness programmes were being held and hoardings were being put up in the constituency for the purpose.
Nizamabad hit headlines after over 170 farmers filed nominations for the April 11 polls as a mark of protest, alleging that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) had failed to ensure Minimum Support Price for turmeric and red jowar (sorghum) produce and in getting a turmeric board established in Nizamabad.
Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter and sitting MP Kavitha is seeking re-election from the constituency.
A section of farmers contesting in the seat had last week moved the Telangana high court, urging it to direct the Election Commission to postpone the polling date so as to give them sufficient time for campaigning.
The court posted the matter for hearing on April 8.
Read Exclusive COVID-19 Coronavirus News updates, at MyNation.