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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Inflation is also increasing with time, which also impacts elections. Lakhs of rupees are spent by parties and candidates in every election, but the limit of expenditure is set by the Election Commission. The Election Commission cannot spend more than the prescribed limit in Lok Sabha elections. After the elections, the candidate also has to show the details of his expenses to the Election Commission. The details shown by the candidates reflect the total expenditure incurred per person. So let us know today how much is spent per person in elections…
How much did election expenditure increase?
According to the report, when Lok Sabha elections were held for the first time in the country, the per capita expenditure on elections was 0.67 paise. In the year 2019 this price increased to Rs 31.52. There has been a decline in the expenditure limit in some elections after the 1952 Lok Sabha elections, but the increase from the 2009 Lok Sabha elections to 2019 has been shocking.
There was a general increase in election expenditure till 2004.
In the first Lok Sabha elections held in 1952, candidates spent a total of Rs 51.12 lakh. That means per capita expenditure was 0.67 paise. In the Lok Sabha elections held in 1957, per capita expenditure came down to 0.59 paise. 0.46 paise was spent in the elections held in the year 1962. After this the elections gained some momentum. In the 1971 Lok Sabha elections, 0.59 paise was spent per person. Then there was a continuous increase in election expenses. By the year 2004, this expenditure increased to Rs 7.21 per person.
There has been a huge increase in election expenditure in the last three elections.
There has been a shocking increase in election expenses in the last three Lok Sabha elections i.e. 2009, 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. A total of Rs 6394.73 crore was spent in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. That means the cost per person was Rs 17.26. Total expenditure in the year 2014 was Rs 15783.00 crore, per capita expenditure was Rs 32.24. Rs 15429 crore was also spent in the 2019 elections, of which the per capita expenditure was Rs 31.52.
Election expenditure exceeds limit!
These election expenses are as per the details of expenditure given by the candidates. Since the Election Commission has set a limit on expenditure. Although crores of rupees were spent by the candidates, when the details of the expenditure were presented before the Election Commission, it was found that it was less than the prescribed limit. For example, the expenditure limit in assembly elections has been fixed at Rs 40 lakh. That means no candidate can spend more than Rs 40 lakh, whereas everyone knows that Rs 40 lakh is spent in elections. I am not fighting for Rs 40 lakh. Many candidates spend Rs 8 to 10 crore in elections, but when the accounts of the expenditure are submitted to the Election Commission, it is said that it is within the prescribed limit.
Election Commission increased the expenses of candidates
The Election Commission has increased the cost of elections keeping inflation in mind. During the first Lok Sabha elections in 1952, the Election Commission had fixed the election expenditure at Rs 25,000. In the 1971 elections, it was increased to Rs 35 thousand and in 1980 to Rs 1 lakh. In the year 1983 the expenditure limit was increased to Rs 1.5 lakh. Which was increased to Rs 4.5 lakh in the year 1996. In the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, the expenditure limit was increased to Rs 1000. 15 lakh, in the year 2004 it was Rs. 25 lakhs and in 2014 Rs. It was made for Rs 70 lakh. Whereas in this year's Lok Sabha elections Rs. Election expenditure has been fixed at Rs 95 lakh.
Where do these expenses occur?
The election expenses determined by the Election Commission can be spent by the candidate in the election campaign. This includes expenditure on public meetings, rallies, advertisements, poster-banners and vehicles. All candidates will have to give details of expenditure to the Election Commission within 30 days of the completion of the elections.
Election expenditure limit for political parties
The election expenditure limit has not been fixed for political parties, but Rs 95 lakh has been fixed for candidates contesting Lok Sabha elections. When a candidate in the assembly elections gets Rs. Can spend up to Rs 40 lakh. In some smaller states and union territories, the election expenditure limit for a Lok Sabha candidate has been set at Rs 75 lakh and for an Assembly candidate at Rs 28 lakh.
