AP elections 2024: The elections in Andhra Pradesh in 2024 are set to become the most expensive polls ever witnessed in the region. With the polling date arrived, preparations are in full swing to ensure a smooth and peaceful voting process. In Telangana, elections will be held for 17 Lok Sabha seats with 525 candidates in contention, while in Andhra Pradesh, elections will be conducted for 175 Assembly segments and 25 Lok Sabha seats simultaneously. This means a significant number of voters, around 3.31 crore in Telangana and 4.8 crore in Andhra Pradesh, are eligible to cast their votes.
As the campaigning phase has concluded, political parties are now focusing their efforts on managing the polls effectively. Many individuals from Andhra Pradesh, residing in Hyderabad, are traveling back to their hometowns to participate in the voting process. This has led to heavy traffic on routes like the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway over the weekend.
Meanwhile, experts predict that the 2024 elections will be the most expensive ones yet, especially in Andhra Pradesh, where the stakes are high. Betting activities are also on the rise, particularly concerning the Andhra Assembly elections and key Lok Sabha seats like Mangalagiri, Pulivendula, Kuppam, Pithapuram, and Kadapa. Reports suggest that a substantial amount, approximately Rs 2,000 crore, is at stake in these betting markets. Additionally, parties has invested significant sums in distributing money among voters, with estimates running into thousands of crores.
In certain Assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, it is reported that parties offered as much as Rs 3,000 per vote to garner support. This election season, the average amount being distributed per vote by parties is estimated to be around Rs 1,500. These figures highlight the significant financial investments made by political parties to secure electoral victories.
A study conducted in 2019 revealed that political parties in Andhra Pradesh spent billions of rupees during the polls, with a considerable portion of the expenditure allocated to distributing money to voters. According to the Centre for Media Studies (CMS), the average payment to voters ranged from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per vote in certain districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Interestingly, there have been instances of public protests in areas like Sattenapalli and Pithapuram, where voters expressed dissatisfaction over parties’ refusal to provide monetary incentives.
This upcoming elections in Andhra Pradesh are poised to be the costliest ever, with a substantial amount of money being invested by parties and individuals alike. Despite efforts to curb unethical practices such as vote-buying, the influence of money in politics remains a prevalent issue that warrants attention and scrutiny.
