State Election Department Estimated Rs 118 Crore For Election in Assam

GUWAHATI: The State Election Department has estimated a budget of Rs 118 crore for the conduct of the 2019 Parliamentary polls in Assam. Of this amount, Rs 106 crore has been earmarked for the districts while the remaining amount of Rs 12 crore is meant for poll-related departmental expenses.

Once the Assam Government releases the estimated fund, the election department would release the earmarked amounts to the respective Deputy Commissioners. As per rules, the Central Government would reimburse the entire amount subsequently. With respect to the conduct of Assembly polls, however, the share between the State and the Central Government is of the 50:50 ratio.

Talking to The Sentinel, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, State Election Department, ML Surekha said, “The State Election Department is making the final preparations for conducting the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in Assam. The budget estimate for the exercise has been prepared.”

Meanwhile, sources informed that the Lok Sabha polls in Assam may be either in two or three phases. If it is conducted in a double phase then the poll process would be over before the Rongali Bihu celebrations in April. However, if it is conducted in a triple phase then, of course, the third phase would be held after Bihu.

The State Election Department is also having consultations with the ECI and Assam Police on the security arrangements for the poll exercise. It has also been learned that Election Commissioners may visit the State for consultations with various political parties before the dates of the LS polls are declared.

The last Lok Sabha elections in 2014 were conducted in three phases. On April 7, the first phase of the Parliamentary polls was held in the five political segments of Tezpur, Kaliabor, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Lakhimpur while the second phase was conducted in Karimganj, Silchar, and Diphu on April 12. The last phase of the 2014 LS polls was held in the six political segments of Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Guwahati, Mangaldoi, and Nagaon on April 24.

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