Kerala Government Sanctions Rs 42.89 Crore for Election Security Ahead of Assembly Polls
With the assembly elections in Kerala just days away, the state government has cleared a significant budget of Rs 42.89 crore for policing and security arrangements. This approval represents a scaled-down allocation from the initial request of Rs 85.61 crore made by the state police chief, highlighting a more focused approach to election management.
Key Expenditure Breakdown for Election Security
The home department order, sanctioned on March 24, outlines a detailed plan for how the funds will be utilized to ensure smooth electoral processes. The allocation covers a wide range of needs, from polling day deployment to counting centre security and potential post-result law and order issues.
Personnel Allowances and Special Forces: A substantial portion of the budget, around Rs 12 crore, has been earmarked for special allowances to police and other personnel drafted for election duty. Those deployed on polling and counting days will receive 1.5 times their regular daily allowance, with a cap of seven days to manage costs effectively.
To bolster the regular police force, the government has approved the engagement of 25,000 special police officers for two days—polling day and the previous day. Each officer will be paid Rs 1,400 per day along with a food allowance of Rs 250, totaling Rs 7.62 crore. Additionally, 2,000 home guards will be brought in for short-term duty, with a smaller allocation of Rs 25 lakh to support their deployment.
Logistics and Surveillance Measures
The order reveals the extensive logistics required for election policing. Nearly 8,400 vehicles will be hired across constituencies for three days, costing Rs 2.52 crore, with an extra Rs 3 crore set aside for emergency troop movement. Another Rs 7 crore has been allocated for fuel to ensure mobility and responsiveness during the electoral period.
Surveillance and monitoring form a critical component of the security strategy. Police will hire 2,000 video cameras for polling day at a cost of Rs 1 crore, enhancing oversight and transparency at voting stations.
Backend Requirements and Additional Funding
Other expenditures point to the backend necessities of election management. This includes Rs 3 crore each for office expenses and repair and maintenance, Rs 50 lakh for communication systems, and Rs 1 crore allocated as a secret service fund for covert operations. Feeding arrangements for personnel across forces, including central units, will cost another Rs 2 crore to ensure operational efficiency.
Integration of Central and State Forces
Beyond the state's own deployment, central forces and police teams from other states are expected to be part of the election security grid, a practice consistent with previous assembly polls. Such units have already begun area familiarization and route marches in several districts ahead of polling, preparing for coordinated efforts.
In past elections in Kerala, multi-layered deployment—combining state police, central armed forces, and surveillance measures—has been key to managing sensitive booths and ensuring order during counting and post-result phases. This suggests a similar comprehensive approach is likely to be implemented this time, leveraging the approved funds to maintain peace and security throughout the electoral process.
