Election Freebies: Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain.
THE COST OF A VOTE: A CLOSER LOOK AT INDIA'S 'FREEBIE CULTURE' By Lara Gaud Elections are among the most controversial periods for any country, and India is no exception. Why are elections particularly contentious in India? As the world's largest democracy, India is expected to conduct 'free and fair' elections. However, one must question whether this is truly the case. Political parties frequently distribute ‘freebies’ leading up to elections, with leaders spending millions to entice voters and build vote banks. Given this context, it is difficult to claim that India's elections are genuinely free and fair. Let's get into a detailed analysis. In 2019, a survey was conducted by the Association for Democratic Reforms, a Delhi-based NGO, across 543 parliamentary constituencies in India. According to that survey, more than 42% of voters consider the distribution of cash, liquor, and freebies an essential factor behind voting for a particular cand...