KURNOOL: Elections in our democracy, as we all know, are not quite so democratic, with political parties often giving tickets to the highest bidder. The bids in the 2019 elections are going through the roof, with major political parties said to be doubling the “price” of tickets compared to the 2014 elections.
The Kurnool Lok Sabha seat in 2014 reportedly went to a new entrant for Rs 40 crore. This time, the Nandyal Lok Sabha seat is said to have been auctioned for Rs 100 crore. A rival party is fielding a candidate who has offered to match the bid “measure for measure.
One candidate aspiring for a LS seat said he does not have that kind of money. “All I have is people’s support. I nurtured the party during the past five years. What went against me was that I had fewer resources.”
Even Nandyal and Hindupur are going to see new candidates of this party.
In elections, most of the funds for campaigning has to come from the candidates’ pockets. Though there is a cap on spending, this is followed more in the breach than observance.
