India’s spend on elections could challenge US record: report

It is expected that Indian politicians to spend around $ 5 billion or Rs . 30,500 crore ($ 1 = 61 rupees) campaigning for the elections next month – a sum only to the most expensive U.S. presidential campaign of all time .

The estimate was provided by the Center for Information Science , which tracks the spending.

That is triple the cost of the center said that he spent on the campaign trail in the last national survey in 2009.

Campaign spending projected India is matched only by the $ 7 million ( Rs 42,700 crore ) spent by candidates, parties and support groups in the 2012 presidential race in the U.S., the most expensive world, according to figures provided by the electoral commission U.S. .

The dates for the election of one month from April 7 were announced last week, with the staggered polls in nine stages.

Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath said on Wednesday he was concerned about “money power ” – a strong spending and the use of illegal funds to influence the outcome .
The Center for Media Studies expenditure projections ‘ are based on the analysis of the rising costs in local and state elections in the last five years. Voters also examines the prevalence of bribes.

Spending campaign for this election could give a boost to the economy, which has been running for bad longest stretch since the 1980s . Economists have predicted a second year of growth below 5 percent in the financial year ending this month.

“This election spending generously help boost consumer spending in India during the second quarter of 2014 , but this will be a temporary spike ,” said Rajiv Biswas , chief Asia – Pacific economist at IHS Global Insight.

Expenditure in previous Indian elections have benefited from a wide range of businesses, from media groups and advertisers who rake in the advertising campaign revenue for companies based in consumer indirectly advantage in the global jump in spending .

Advertising industry in India expects to see $ 800 million dollars or rupees. 4,900 crore injection during the election season , according to a viewpoint most local agency of the country , Madison Media.

However, much of the campaign spending in India will remain in its thriving black economy .

Rules allow candidates to spend Rs . 70 lakh campaigns for a seat in parliament , but the actual cost of winning is about 10 times that through rallies expenses , fuel campaigns and media that often include payments coverage.

In the past three years , the electoral authorities of politicians seized a total of about $ 32.65 million or Rs . 200 million rupees in the form of hidden money in cash if they hid some in helicopters, milk trucks and even vans funeral , said a former election commissioner .