Money and Elections: Exploring the financial influence in Indian politics

Abstract

Elections in India hold a lot of significance as they provide the citizens with a platform to stand up for their interests and shape governance. Over time, however, the increasing role of money in Indian politics has become a major concern, raising questions about the fairness and transparency of the electoral procedures. Political finance plays a vital role in strengthening the base of political parties, yet its misuse can pose serious problems to electoral democracy. Despite the initiatives undertaken by the Election Commission of India, the influence of money on elections still persists. While existing studies emphasize the correlation between money inflows and electoral outcomes, they often overlook the mechanisms through which money becomes a force of misuse. This study aims to understand the relation between the money inflow and electoral outcomes in Indian politics, while also highlighting the role played by contemporary trends such as of social media in reforming this relation.