COST OF BUYING VOTES

SARASIJ MAJUMDER

 

A.  LADLI BEHNA YOJNA. - MP

Mr. Chouhan won the Election in his State for BJP. He literally took Taxpayers money and donated it to women just to stay in power and win votes.

He achieved this win by promising ₹1250/- to every Poor woman voter and promising to increase it to ₹3500/- if his party gets elected.

On a rough estimate, the number of such women Voters are 1.3Crore ++

We just calculate the amount on the basis of Rs.1250/- p.m./woman.

That's ₹ 1.0 Lakh Crore for 5 years on a moderate estimate.

If the rate is enhanced to ₹3500, it will be about Rs. 3.0 Lakh Crore for 5 Years.

There are other FREEBIES promised as well.

B. FREEBIES SCHEMES—KARNATAKA.

1.      The five promises of the Congress parties are:

2. 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti)
3. Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi)
4. 10 kilograms of rice free to every member of a below poverty line (BPL) household (Anna Bhagya)
5. Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders aged 18-25 for two years (YuvaNidhi)
6. Free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti)

As per Economic Times, these Freebies will cost Rs.62,000/- Cr per year.

In KARNATAKA, Mr. SIDDHRAMAYA will be spending more than3.0 Lakh Crore towards Freebies inn 5 Years.

C. FOR DELHI—

AAP Government LIKELY TO SPEND Rs. 18,000/-. Crore per annum for various promised FREEBIES . Here is an estimate by INDIA TODAY. Mainly 4 components involved—(a)Free Bus Ride for Women; (b) Limited free electricity to everybody; and (c)free Pilgrimage to Senior Citizen : "Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana", and (d) some amount of Free Water. Total amount for 5 years:-Rs.90,000/- Crore. 

D. Subsidy for PUNJAB:--

Almost 90 per cent of the state’s households are now getting zero electricity bills. Source:- Punjab Kesari

As per the state’s annual budget, a total power subsidy bill of Rs 15,845 crore has been proposed compared to the Rs 13,443 crore in 2021-22. The AAP’s key promise of giving financial assistance of Rs 1,000 every month to all women aged 18 and above is yet to be implemented. There are nearly 1 crore women in Punjab. The government will need another Rs 12,000 crore per annum to fulfil this promise.

Punjab Government already paid total Rs.20, 300 Cr. as subsidy for electricity bill for 2022-23. This alone will be more than Rs. 1.0 Lakh Cr. in 5 years. Add to this other schemes.

State Budget does not reflect expenditure due to all FREEBIES.

I had a talk with an acquaintance, State level High Official, in Patiala,  PUNJAB. His estimate is at least Rs. 5.0 Lakh Cr. for a 5-year term. OUTLOOK data  published during Election supports this Figure.

Government officials told IANS the state's debt has increased by Rs 1 lakh crore in the past five years under the previous Congress government, largely owing to populism.

E  West Bengal:-

The West Bengal government’s own website lists 28 schemes which are on offer to the state’s citizens and include schemes like Khadya Sathi, Banglar Awas Yojana, Nijo Griha Nijo Bhumi, Swasthya Sathi, Kanyashree, Sikshashree, Aikyashree, Student Credit Card, Lakshmir Bhandar, Krishak Bandhu, Samajik Suraksha Yojana, Manabik Pension, Jai Bangla Pension Scheme, Bidhaba Bhata and Yuvashree.

I have screened 5 Budgets of West Bengal, and last Election Manifesto of TMC. All the SUBSIDY schemes are normally  clubbed with various regular and, WELFARE expenditures. It is not possible to pick Vote oriented subsidy amount that has been spent by West Bengal Government, in any year, and are not in PUBLIC DOMAIN. DURGA PUJA FREEBY alone was Rs.278 Cr last year. From knowledgeable sources, who supplied information on condition of anonym iity—the figure may be Rs. 1.0 Lakh Crore , or more, per annum. Even then, all will not be paid.  This budget included all the schemes .

F. Himachal Pradesh:-

As the Congress party wrested back power from the BJP in Himachal Pradesh, the party has to fulfil commitment given for  ‘freebies’ in an attempt to garner support ahead of the parliament election in the State due later next year.

The Congress promised to pay a monthly allowance of ₹1,500 to woman between 18 to 60 years, besides a promise to give 300 units of free electricity to all households, if the party assumed power in the State. All women shall pay 50% less for BUS FARE.

Well, Party got elected.

This could easily cost Total Rs. 2.0 Lakh Crore in 5 Years to the exchequer. Source: Amar Ujjala

In India - the total such payments work out  easily over  ₹19 Lakh Crore across a 5 Year tenure. This is the cost of Indian Democracy, paid to the MUFFOTKHORS, to secure their votes.

I have not added the amount the regional parties and Congress pay, to purchase MUSLIM VOTES, over, and above this amount.

A fraction  of this Rs. 19 Lakh Crore amount could modernize our Army fully by 2028.

Conclusion:- The freebies have become a major VOTE CULTURE  in India, initiated by AAP in DELHI, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed as "revdi" culture, not good for the economy. The opposition parties doubled down on freebies, especially after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) victory in Punjab and the Congress victory in Himachal Pradesh where both parties had offered many freebies to people. Now with the Congress victory in Karnataka, no party will be able to refrain from offering poll freebies which will have a negative impact on the country’s economy.

NOTE:-- Most of the data are sourced from Public Domain. Where not available, information collected from reliable sources, working in the system.