India’s general election, involving nearly one billion voters, is set to be the most expensive in history, with an estimated spending of 1.35 trillion rupees ($16 billion). Factors driving this surge include the growing electorate, increasing number of candidates, and rising costs of campaigning, notably in digital marketing. Despite efforts to curb illicit spending, such as the recent seizure of assets by the Election Commission, the influence of money persists, favoring wealthy candidates with criminal backgrounds. Reforms like electoral bonds have had limited impact, leaving concerns about money’s role in Indian politics largely unaddressed.
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