Collectors asked to assess Odisha's poll expense need

BHUBANESWAR: Kicking off preparation for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections next year, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar on Monday asked all district collectors to submit poll expenses estimation reports and details about logistics requirements of their districts.

Confirming the development, Kumar said it is a routine process to be undertaken  to ensure smooth, free and fair elections in the State. As per the instruction of Election Commission, the process to set up strong rooms in all the districts has also started. The Works Department has been requested to inspect the condition of all strong rooms and take up necessary repair and construction works wherever necessary.
The Election Commission has requested the State Government to allot strong rooms for the safe storage of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines.

Noting that the Election Commission has provided funds for logistics needed for conducting the general elections, Kumar said the district collectors have been asked to furnish details of their poll expenses.
Elections for Lok Sabha as well as state Assembly will be held simultaneously in 2019. While the total poll related expenses was Rs 140 crore in 2014, it is expected to go up to `200 crore.