Andhra Pradesh polls: Security arrangements cost Rs 220cr

There is a huge amount spent for elections, which is never realised by the general public. Going on with the looming elections for the Assembly and Lok Sabha in either region of undivided Andhra Pradesh - Telangana and Seemandhra, an estimated expenditure of Rs 220cr has been recorded just for the sake of security arrangements, reportedly. If it was the case, wherein the elections were conducted separately for Assembly and Lok Sabha, the expenditure could have been much more than the present figure.

The one day exercise in Telangana on April 30 needed as many as 90,000 police personnel to carry out the entire course of action. A recorded amount of Rs 100cr was spent for vehicles, wages, food and other logistics support for the elections conducted on April 30. According to the sources, this amount exceeded by 30% as compared to the expenditure incurred in 2009 general elections. It is worth mentioning here that the Election Commission has employed as many as four helicopters to avoid troublesome incidents in various Maoist meted out areas.

From the other end, an estimated expenditure of Rs 120cr is likely to be incurred for the election in Seemandhra region. It is worth mentioning here that Seemandhra region has most number of sensitive areas as compared to Telangana. According to the sources, the state police department has demanded for a huge sum which was restricted by the Election Commission.