A Miracle called Indian Elections

In a country where rules are there only to be referred to, at the most! , it is a miracle how a systimatically the huge exercise of elections is carried out. Here are some facts and figures relating to the recent elections conducted in Maharashtra, one of the Indian states:

Area of India : 3,287,363 sq. km
Population of India : more than 1,000,000,000
Literacy in India : 65.4%

Now about Maharashtra :-
Area : 307, 690 sq. km
Population : 96,752,247
Number of voters : 75,811,245
Number of constituencies : 288
Total number of candidates in fray : 3559
acndidates with criminal background : 276
women candidates in fray : 211
Number of Polling stations: 84,136
Number of electronica polling machines used : 125,000
Number of staff on polling duty : 478,000
Number of security personnel for polling security : 475,000
Government expenditure on this election : Rs. 20,000,000 ( more than $400,000)

Each voter has to identify himself/herself with a photo ID. Inside each polling a place is kept for representative of all candidates to oversee actual election process. Voting is secret voting on pressing a button on electronic voting machine. For the aid of illiterate voters candidates name is accompanied by election symbol.

Whole of electioneering machinery is governed by Election Commission, completely independent of government or any political party.