By Pius Varghese, Co-Founder & National General Secretary, Sanay Chatrapati Shasan
— A personal reflection on democracy, equality, and the urgent need for electoral reform.
A call to make democracy affordable and accessible to all.
Introduction
The recent decision to raise election expenditure limits for local self-government polls in Maharashtra is being described as a “practical adjustment” to inflation and rising campaign costs.
But this move is not about practicality — it is about reshaping democracy into a playground for the rich and powerful.
When the cost of contesting elections keeps rising, honest, educated and service-minded citizens are automatically forced out of the race.
And if such citizens stop participating, how will democracy be strengthened and corruption ever be curbed?
The Price of Entry — and the Cost of Exclusion
Even at the local level, official spending limits now run into lakhs of rupees.
Actual campaign costs — banners, rallies, social-media advertising, transport, volunteers, hospitality and digital outreach — go far beyond the permitted ceilings.
For a teacher, small entrepreneur, retired public servant or first-time social worker, contesting an election has become an unaffordable aspiration.
Democracy thus turns into the privilege of those who can buy the key to power.
A study by the Centre for Media Studies (CMS) estimated that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections cost nearly ₹1,00,000 crore — making them the most expensive elections in the world, even ahead of the U.S. (Drishti IAS, 2024).
Yet, while candidate limits are periodically revised upwards, there are still no legal limits on political party spending.
This imbalance further tilts the field toward moneyed interests, sidelining ordinary, deserving candidates.
A Step Backward for Democracy
India’s electoral costs have ballooned with every election.
Instead of enforcing stricter transparency and genuine accountability, authorities have chosen to legalise excess by increasing expense limits — effectively rewarding the wealthy and politically connected.
In 2022, the Election Commission raised the Lok Sabha constituency spending cap from â‚ą70 lakh to â‚ą95 lakh and the Assembly ceiling from â‚ą28 lakh to â‚ą40 lakh (ECI Notification, 2022).
However, this revision doesn’t promote fairness — it formalises inequality.
As costs rise, genuine candidates are priced out, while money-backed contenders gain legitimacy.
In contrast, democracies like the UK, Canada and Norway maintain strict spending limits and offer public funding, ensuring candidates compete on ideas, not income.
India, unfortunately, is moving toward a democracy of deep pockets, not deep principles.
When the Honest and Educated Step Back, Corruption Steps In
When the honest and educated step back, corruption confidently steps in.
Every time a teacher, professional, or social worker decides politics is “not for them,” another opportunist fills the space.
That is how public service becomes private business.
By raising expenditure limits, we are not modernising elections — we are monetising them.
It sends a clear message that politics is for the affluent, not the honest.
If educated and service-minded citizens cannot afford to contest, democracy will become a closed club of the wealthy and connected.
When money decides who contests, truth and competence rarely win.
Constitutional & Legal Foundations
The Constitution of India envisions equality, transparency and fairness in public life — values that define the spirit of democracy.
Election expenditure limits are not administrative tools but constitutional safeguards to ensure equal opportunity and fair participation.
Even if the Election Commission claims to have adequate control and transparency, the very act of raising expenditure limits itself undermines equality.
It shifts elections from a contest of ideas to a contest of wealth — violating the essence of Articles 14, 19 and 324 of the Constitution, which collectively guarantee equality, political freedom, and free and fair elections.
Reducing spending limits and ensuring equal opportunity for all eligible citizens who wish to contest is the true constitutional duty of the Election Commission.
This alone upholds the Basic Structure of our democracy and restores public faith in electoral fairness.
A democracy that allows only the wealthy to contest cannot remain representative; it becomes selective — and selection is the opposite of election.
Judicial & Policy Precedents
The Supreme Court of India has repeatedly held that free and fair elections are part of the Basic Structure of the Constitution.
In Indira Nehru Gandhi v. Raj Narain (1975) and PUCL v. Union of India (2003), the Court affirmed that equality in political participation is foundational to democracy.
In Common Cause v. Union of India (1996), the Court warned about the corrosive influence of unaccounted money in elections.
And in 2024, the Supreme Court struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme as unconstitutional, citing violations of transparency and citizens’ right to information (AP News, 2024).
These landmark judgments confirm that unchecked money power in elections violates constitutional morality, not just procedure.
The Real Reform India Needs
If India truly wishes to strengthen democracy and curb corruption, the Election Commission must act not to expand spending ceilings but to expand opportunity and restore balance.
- Reduce spending limits — especially for local body elections.
- Introduce partial public funding for genuine candidates.
- Ensure real-time transparency in donations and expenditure disclosures.
- Provide free or subsidised media and digital access to all contestants.
- Enforce strict penalties and disqualification for overspending.
- Support first-time and low-resource candidates with shared campaign facilities.
- Cap total political party expenditure proportionate to constituencies contested.
Even official committees such as the Law Commission of India and past Election Commission reports have recommended state funding and tighter regulation of money power — aligning directly with this call for reform.
Democracy must be affordable — not auctioned.
My Stand
I firmly believe that true democracy begins when every citizen — rich or poor — can contest elections on equal terms.
If money decides politics, honesty, education and service will have no place in governance.
Raising expenditure limits does not empower democracy — it weakens it.
The Election Commission should focus on reducing costs, improving transparency, and ensuring that every Indian who wishes to serve the people has a fair chance to contest.
This reflects both my personal conviction and the broader commitment of the Sanay Chatrapati Shasan party to build a transparent, inclusive and corruption-free democracy.
Democracy must be driven by ideas, not invoices. — Pius Varghese
Co-Founder & National General Secretary
Sanay Chatrapati ShasanAbout the Author
Pius Varghese is the Co-Founder and National General Secretary of Sanay Chatrapati Shasan, a registered political party, which he co-founded with Professor Namdevrao Jadhav, the National President.
He is a strong advocate of clean, transparent, and inclusive politics, writing on governance, equality, and electoral reform — with a vision to empower honest and educated citizens to actively participate in democracy.