Days before the elections started, we have been hearing, listening, seeing, reading (literally getting attacked) from all possible sources as to why it is important to vote and why this time we will see people coming out in record breaking numbers to exercise their franchise. So it didn't come as a surprise when I (heard/saw/read) that we have seen our highest voter turnout ever! But then again we should see this number in relation to other numbers/facts mentioned below.
First shocker: election expenditure for 2014 elections increased by 131% to 3426 cr compared to 2009 elections! Of course, one may give an excuse saying inflation has played its part but one of the major reasons for such a hike has been the huge amount of money spent on creating awareness about voting and rightly so. Now, add to that money spent by political parties (figures unknown) to market their respective candidates and encourage their 'support base' to go out and vote to ensure their victory. I am sure the increase percentage here is much more than 131% vis-a-vis last general elections considering the fact that these parties have been giving a tough competition to the corporate world in terms of marketing blitzkrieg they have undertaken in order to sell their respective candidates and political agenda. Add to that vibrant news media coming out with series of programs/news articles throwing light on important election issues, enlightening and in turn pushing their readers/viewers to go out and vote. Finally, the fascinating contest involving leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal with their numerous rallies giving much required boost to their respective support base. So on every front we notice that the resources put in terms of efforts, money, manpower etc has jumped manifold to obtain one objective: to achieve higher turnout of voters compared to 2009 elections. And result: voter turnout percentage increased from 58.2% in 2009 to 66.4% this time around. So much incremental input for an incremental output of 8.2%! Though, I do agree even a small percent increase is a huge increase in terms of absolute numbers and I am not an expert on such matters but as a layman I still feel the 66.4% number is low considering the quantum of resources that have gone into creating awareness about voting.
First shocker: election expenditure for 2014 elections increased by 131% to 3426 cr compared to 2009 elections! Of course, one may give an excuse saying inflation has played its part but one of the major reasons for such a hike has been the huge amount of money spent on creating awareness about voting and rightly so. Now, add to that money spent by political parties (figures unknown) to market their respective candidates and encourage their 'support base' to go out and vote to ensure their victory. I am sure the increase percentage here is much more than 131% vis-a-vis last general elections considering the fact that these parties have been giving a tough competition to the corporate world in terms of marketing blitzkrieg they have undertaken in order to sell their respective candidates and political agenda. Add to that vibrant news media coming out with series of programs/news articles throwing light on important election issues, enlightening and in turn pushing their readers/viewers to go out and vote. Finally, the fascinating contest involving leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal with their numerous rallies giving much required boost to their respective support base. So on every front we notice that the resources put in terms of efforts, money, manpower etc has jumped manifold to obtain one objective: to achieve higher turnout of voters compared to 2009 elections. And result: voter turnout percentage increased from 58.2% in 2009 to 66.4% this time around. So much incremental input for an incremental output of 8.2%! Though, I do agree even a small percent increase is a huge increase in terms of absolute numbers and I am not an expert on such matters but as a layman I still feel the 66.4% number is low considering the quantum of resources that have gone into creating awareness about voting.
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