Why are India’s Election in 2024 the most expensive polls in the world?

Around 1.35 lakh crore (till phase 4) cost was projected in India’s election 2024. According to the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), Rao suggested that expenses for the 2024 Indian election would cross those of the country’s last general elections in 2019, in which participants expended almost 600 billion Indian rupees ($7.2 billion) For every Indian’s 968 million eligible voters, that amount to around $14.95 or estimated 2.2 billion INR every parliamentary seat. 

The world's largest democratic exercise exhibits a shift between the 2019 and 2024 polls. The election expenses in 2024 have skyrocketed from 1.35 lakh crore, more than double the 60,000 crore spent in 2019. There is a higher number of political parties participating in the election 2024 which is 2500 in total. Political parties are turning to digital ads to connect with voters that might influence the election’s result. Data from Google shows a huge increase in online ad spending 52 crores between 1st March to 9th April 2024.

“Pre-election activities are integral to campaign spending by parties and candidates, covering political rallies, transportation, hiring of workers including field and influencers and even the controversial horse-trading of political leaders.” -Rao

The ballooning campaign expenditures in India have been under scrutiny, particularly in light of corporate funding via "electoral bonds." These bonds were introduced by the government in 2018 to provide a legal channel for political donations and curb the flow of illicit cash into politics. However, the Supreme Court declared the scheme unconstitutional, prompting revelations about corporate donations, with a significant portion going to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Despite the scheme's intention to increase transparency, concerns remain about its efficacy in curbing undeclared cash flows, which are often used for vote-buying and bribery. The use of "electoral bonds" by big Indian companies, mostly to fund the BJP. The Election Commission of India reports that the BJP received 82.5 billion rupees (nearly $1 billion) from a total of $2 billion worth of bonds sold between 2018 and 2024. In contrast, the main opposition Congress party received only 19.5 billion rupees ($2.38 million) during the same period. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has criticised the BJP

“Made electoral bonds a medium for taking bribes and commission.” 

Political parties are spending a lot of money to attract voters. The authorities have deployed 150 million polling and security staff and engaged 400,000 vehicles. Moreover, 5.5 million electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used to cast votes. Election involves paying voters unlawful volumes of money in exchange for their support. India's Election Commission has set an official spending limit for candidates – which varies between 7.5 million and 9.5 million rupees per candidate, depending on the state where they are standing for election.

“The use of black money has become rampant. The Election Commission’s limit on candidates’ spending is not effective and laws are not properly enforced.” -Mr Sahoo

The Indian elections of 2024 have brought to attention the enormous cost and scale of democratic participation in the world's largest democracy. These polls are projected to cost 1.35 lakh crore INR, surpassing all previous records and highlighting the immense financial resources required to engage with India's vast electorate. Despite attempts to regulate campaign financing, challenges persist, particularly with regards to transparency and the influence of corporate donations through electoral bonds. The scrutiny surrounding election expenditures underlines the need for comprehensive reforms to ensure the integrity and accountability of India's electoral process.