The RK Nagar by-election in Tamil Nadu will cost the exchequer an unprecedented Rs 3 crore, making it the costliest election in India’s history, as per a report by B Sivakumar in The Times of India.
In view of complaints of distribution of money, the poll panel has made extensive arrangements, deploying around 2,500 security personnel and installing cameras. Due to this, the cost for this election has shot up to Rs 3 crore, whereas the usual bill for a by-election is Rs 60 lakh, the report says.
Extra measures have been taken to prevent distribution of money to voters over the next few days before polling on 21 December, special chief electoral officer Vikram Batra told ToI.
"Ever since I landed in Chennai on Saturday, I have been reviewing the arrangements made in the constituency. We have 21 all-India service officials involved as observers, returning officer, polling officials and security. We are doing our best to make the election free and fair,” he said.
The number of flying squads in the constituency have also been enhanced from Sunday.
While there were two flying squads per ward and 14 in total for the seven wards, they have been increased to three per ward including one each to all election observers, Vikram Batra said.
Talking about the unprecedented security arrangements, the EC official said that they have deployed 900 central force personnel including the CRPF and the CISF. Besides this, there are more than 1,000 state police personnel. To prevent distribution of money in the night, IAS and IPS officers have been deployed for night patrolling.
"The by-election will enter the record books in terms of expenditure of tax payers' money. With massive security and other arrangements being made, the total expenditure will be Rs 3 crore against Rs 50 to Rs 60 lakh for by-polls in other states," a state election department official told ToI.
A cost of Rs 50 lakh has been incurred to set up the cameras alone.
(The article was originally published on The News Minute and has been republished with permission.)
(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)