Chennai, Apr 8:
Tamil Nadu has earmarked ₹1,302 crore for conducting the upcoming Assembly elections, marking a substantial increase compared to previous polls, Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said on Tuesday.
Addressing reporters, she noted that ₹795 crore was allocated for the 2021 Assembly elections, while ₹1,009 crore was spent on the 2024 Parliamentary polls.
“The current allocation has been enhanced to ensure that elections are conducted without any financial constraints,” she said.
On election-related violations, Patnaik revealed that around 2,600 complaints have been received so far through the cVIGIL mobile application, which allows citizens to report Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations.
She further stated that Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) will be deployed across the State by April 13 to bolster security and ensure free and fair elections.
Highlighting voter participation, the CEO said about 2.5 lakh senior citizens aged above 85 years have opted for the postal ballot facility, reflecting increased use of alternative voting methods.
Officials said the higher budget allocation and security arrangements are aimed at ensuring a smooth, transparent and secure electoral process across Tamil Nadu.