Increase in election expenditure is a matter of concern:

1. 

There was a time when politics was just a means of public service.At that time MLAs were truly the real servants of the people.These issues of increasing the amount of assets by misusing the post were unimaginable in the past.Political figures lived a very simple and unpretentious life.In the context of Assam,most MLAs had no private vehicles at that time and most of the MLAs used buses from the State transport department to participate in the assembly session or to travel to the erstwhile capital Shillong for public work.The most noticeable thing in the context of elections right now is election expenditure.It has been made mandatory for every candidate contesting elections as well as political parties to submit the accounts of the money spent on election campaigns to the Election Commission.Earlier there was no ceiling on the money a candidate could spend on election campaigns.Later,seeing an increase tendency to attract voters with the force of money,the Election Commission raised the expenditure ceiling and the constituency provides for appointment of financial observers to enforce that order.Despite this,the influence of money continued in the elections.A candidate is heard spending more than crore to become an MLAs.Such use of money in elections also leads to a kind of mockery in the Democratic system in different places.The government seemed to be corrupt as a huge amount of money had to be spent on the election campaign.They are the ones who resort to corruption at times as it is not possible to raise so much money on the honest path.There are many people who want a special place in the society after acquiring a lot of wealth.That is why many people dream of participating in political parties and becoming MLAs.Volunteers from political parties have disappeared in most parties.Every political party had and still has different branches according to students,youth,farmers, labourers,women etc.A working force comprising members of these organizations was formed during the elections.Along with holding election meetings,they helped grassroots leaders in the work of putting up posters and banners.These volunteers performed their duty as they were loyal to the party's principles.The services of agents appointed by the candidate during the election process like polling,counting etc were completely voluntary.Times have changed in today's context.The way some parties have spent money during the pre-election campaign is not a good aspect for democracy.Money will continue to dominate the elections till consciousness and awareness among the people is raised.

 

 

Papori Borah