KATHMANDU, Aug 31: The Election Commission and various security agencies have sought a total of Rs 2 billion for the upcoming third phase of the local polls scheduled for September 18. 

Local elections in various 69 districts in Province 1, 3,4,5,6 and 7 have already been completed. The amount sought by the EC and security agencies is meant for holding the polls only in eight districts of Province 2.

According to an official at the Ministry of Finance, the EC and the security agencies have sought Rs 1 billion each for holding the polls. While the Home Ministry has sought Rs 920 million to mobilize three different security wings under it, Nepal Army has demanded some Rs 80 million. 

“Security agencies always seek budget ahead of election. Earlier, a total of Rs 31 billion had been demanded. Finance Ministry released only Rs 11 billion for the purpose,” said the official, asking not to be named. 

Officials at the Finance Ministry said not even Rs 1 billion is necessary to conduct the elections in Province 2 as temporary police personnel won't be hired. The highest amount of money that security personnel spend for is hiring temporary police.

According to the Home Ministry, the ministry has sought Rs 9.5 million for itself, Rs 20 million for eight District Administration Offices in Province 2, Rs 690 million for Nepal Police and its subordinate offices in the districts, Rs 187.9 million for the Armed Police Force and Rs 6.8 million for the National Investigation Department.

While the EC spent Rs 7.29 billion, security agencies spent over 11 billion for security to conduct the first and second phases of the local polls in the 69 districts in six provinces.
 
In the second Constituent Assembly election held in 2013, a total of Rs 11.10 billion was spent. Officials said the government's expenditure for the three phases of the local polls will reach Rs 20 billion. 

The Finance Ministry had provided Rs 10.29 billion to the EC shortly after the announcement of the elections. Officials worry that the tendency of spending arbitrarily has made the state unable to bear the rising cost of elections. The expense for the election has risen by 700 percent [not adjusted for inflation] in the past two decades.
 
The EC had spent Rs 110 million to hold the legislative election of 1991, according to 'Election Cost in Nepal', a book written by current Chief Election Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav. Likewise, another legislative election in 1994 cost the EC Rs 240 million. Similar election was held in 1999 at a cost of Rs 360.6 million.

The cost drastically increased while holding the first Constitution Assembly (CA) election of 2008, where the election body spent Rs 2.9 billion rupees. Likewise, the second CA election of 2013 was held at a cost of Rs 4.26 billion, excluding security expenses.