Elections are wrongly considered as a burden on economy. This democratic ritual helps the nation to bring out the black money with the politicians. Also most the donations made by the businessmen belong to the same category. The political parties make huge expenditure and so the candidates that in turn boost the economy. Also the government expenditure generates the cash flow into the market that is much needed in present economic conditions. After the General elections of 2009 market will certainly be relieved of the pressures of cash liquidity problem and global slowdown.
No matter who makes the government but one thing I like about Indian general elections is that it provides an ample opportunity to the poorest of the people to bargain. Politicians may remain at the top for five years but at last they are on kneels to lure even a single vote to consolidate their position. For the purpose along with human efforts they have to throw away all their prestige, pride and money.
It is often claimed that elections are a burden on economy but I strongly oppose the notion. Even I am in favor that there must be at least one election a year. Not many will agree with me but I have many reasons to prove myself. I agree that the Nation bear a big expenditure in the name of elections. A big amount is wasted in the head of security, official mobilization, and maintenance of machinery. Also office hours are lost and many offices remain close as officials are busy in election duty. All this is true but the real fact is that it all is compensated right within the election period.
With the efforts of election commission there has been a curb on election expenditure made by the candidates. In spite of all these efforts a huge amount is pumped into the arena. Much of it is a black money and elections have become an instrument of money laundering. This is not a bad idea to bring out the money specially during the global slowdown. Surely these general elections have helped the economy. The condition may have been better it there have been relaxations by Election Commission of India.
I love to see the politicians serving food to the poor of the poorest which in other times they may not even like to sit by them. The downtrodden and the exploited people exploit these politicians to say that even they have their share in this land. They get good food to eat at least for four five days in these five years. They are handed some money, although illegal but enough for a week of merry making. They don’t go for a work. Despite they consider it a leisure time which is almost a dream for them.
If we consider the economic prospective, expenditure made on elections never go waste. This money rather joins the growth cycle. It is always good for economy to have an inflow of cash. This will surely boost the economy in the time of global meltdown and will solve the problem of cash liquidity in the market. Also the money laundering factor helps the national income. The huge amount of money dumped in the basements of the rich politicians and politician turned businessmen comes out. This money never becomes part of national growth if there are no elections.
Ethically it may be wrong and for election commission it may be unlawful. But who cares for the law? Think it in the broader prospective. For the five years laws are drafted and violated by these so called leaders. In the times of horse trading of M.P’s why not poor get their share? They get it only for the once and only during the elections. Let them enjoy and try to provide them more and more such opportunities. Let us pray for the fragmented mandate and for the new elections in next six months.