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A recent report by the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), a prominent research organization, has shed light on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, unveiling it as the most expensive electoral event ever held. According to the report, an estimated Rs 60,000 crore was spent as front-end expenditure, with approximately Rs 700 per vote and nearly Rs 100 crore per Lok Sabha constituency. The CMS employed the Perceptions, Experiences, and Estimation (PEE) approach to calculate this staggering figure, a methodology previously utilized to estimate corruption in India.

Methodology and Estimates: Perceptions, Experiences, and Estimation (PEE) Approach

The report indicates a stark increase in election costs since the 2014 elections, where Rs 30,000 crore was estimated as poll expenditure. This time, the figure has doubled, making the Indian elections the costliest in the world. The BJP's share of total poll expenditure surged from 20% in 1998 to approximately 45% in 2019. In contrast, the Congress party's share declined from 40% in 2009 to 15-20% in 2019.

Surge in Election Costs: Indian Elections Become World's Most Expensive

Allegations of parties receiving anonymous grants and substantial spending surfaced during the elections. For instance, the Telugu Desam Party was alleged to have spent Rs 10,000 crore, while the YSR Congress Party was accused of receiving Rs 1,000 crore from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Rs 500 crore from the BJP. Such claims were extensively covered by the media, leading to heightened public awareness.

Allegations of Anonymous Grants and Expenditures Emerge Among Political Parties

The report launch took place on June 2 at the India International Centre (IIC) in New Delhi during a round table discussion on 'Electoral Reforms Required for Curtailing Rising Costs of Elections in Our Country.' Distinguished personalities, including former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S Y Quraishi, former IPS officer D R Kaarthikeyan, and CMS founder N Bhaskar Rao, participated in the discussion. Quraishi, who had established an 'expenditure monitoring department' during his tenure as CEC, commented that "Money power has assumed new dimensions in these elections" and criticized the electoral bonds system introduced by the BJP government, labeling it an "unmitigated disaster" concerning poll expenditure.

Electoral Reforms Urgently Needed: CMS Report Spurs Discussion at Round Table Event

The report's breakdown of election expenses includes approximately Rs 12,000-15000 crore distributed directly to voters, Rs 20,000-25,000 crore spent on publicity, Rs 5,000-6,000 crore on logistics, Rs 10,000-12,000 crore on formal expenditure, and Rs 3,000-6,000 crore on miscellaneous purposes.The CMS report has brought to light the staggering magnitude of election spending in India, sparking discussions on the urgent need for electoral reforms to curb these rising costs.