The Election Commission has reportedly estimated that the 2014 Lok Sabha polls will be costing the exchequer Rs 3,500 crore. This represents a 150% increase compared to the amount spent for the 2009 polls which was Rs 1,400 crore. The amount doesn't include the expenses needed for security and the amount spent by political parties. Each state will be sending the expenditure statement to the Centre for reimbursement following which Union law ministry will be reimbursing the states. The EC's preliminary estimate for this year's election is around Rs 3,500 crore which may be slightly more or less. The costs have increased after 2009 due to inflation and also due to the fact that the EC is running a many awareness campaigns, digitize electoral rolls and prevent buying of votes, especially in states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Other expenses include honorarium to officials involved in election related work and also for conducting campaigns and video graphing of polling booths and campaigns of political parties. The first general elections held in 1952 cost the Rs 10.45 crore. India's parliamentary election is the biggest democratic exercise ever in the world. 

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