The Election Commission has estimated that it will cost Rs 10 billion to hold the state and House of Representatives elections this year.

The commission estimates that the expenditure has been hiked due to the increase in salaries, allowances, daily allowances and travel expenses and other facilities. Increase in number of voters, increase in polling stations and polling booths, increase in use of information technology, cost of preparation of polling materials and voter education materials, current market price and transportation cost has made an election expensive compared to the previous election.