Unofficial Poll Expenditure May Pegged More Than Rs. 5,000 Cr In Telangana

With the Telangana Assembly elections looming, it’s expected to break records as the costliest ever, estimated to exceed Rs. 5,000 crores. Major party candidates regularly invest a substantial Rs. 20-25 crore each, often elevating them to billionaire status. The official expenditure, with three major parties contesting all 119 seats, is pegged at Rs. 300 crore, but the real spending surpasses this.

Securing party tickets is a costly endeavor, with allegations of ticket sales and expenses ranging from Rs. 5 – 10 crore to secure these coveted nominations. The spending spree kicks off with nomination filing, covering campaign materials and special vehicles.

In every Assembly constituency, candidates set up election offices at polling booths, demanding significant funds for office management, worker expenses, and campaign activities. Some even pay local influencers and rowdy figures to ensure support and stifle potential disruptions.

Election time is rife with threats and coercion, as politicians often opt for compromises instead of confrontations. There are claims that candidates pay substantial bribes to officials on election duty to secure their support during the campaign.

Money is deployed to entice voters through transportation, food, liquor, and sometimes direct payments for attending public events. Liquor sales spike, and collectively, candidates spend about Rs. 1,750 crore on alcohol.

Additional expenses encompass food, giveaways, media management, and social media campaigns. However, the truly illicit spending unfolds in the last 48 hours prior to polling, revolving around vote-buying. This final distribution of funds can be at least five times the total campaign expenditure.

Candidates persist in spending even after polling commences, arranging transportation for voters and compensating polling booth agents. In some areas, the impersonation of absent voters is an unfortunate reality.

For those who secure victory, they consider their spending an investment, hoping to recover it with gains. On the flip side, losers often attribute their defeat to the substantial spending by their competitors.

This situation raises a critical question: Is the core of democracy being overshadowed by the sheer weight of campaign spending, where voters are treated as commodities for the highest bidder?

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