In the ongoing Bihar election, the official spending limit for each candidate is ₹40 lakh. However, Bihar election spending has far exceeded this cap. In just 29 days since the announcement, candidates and political parties together have spent over ₹1,075 crore. Candidates alone have used around ₹5.25 billion, while parties have spent ₹250 million more.
Political parties are also estimated to spend another ₹300 crore on polling agents for election day. The Election Commission’s guidelines clearly restrict individual expenses, but Bihar election spending continues unchecked, raising questions about transparency and enforcement.
To control money misuse, the Election Commission has marked 32 constituencies in 12 districts as sensitive to high expenditure. It has appointed expenditure observers and formed flying squads to monitor violations. Still, candidates and parties are spending freely, undermining the fairness of the polls.
The unchecked Bihar election spending shows the deep influence of money power in Indian politics. Despite strict laws, the ground reality reflects a troubling gap between rules and implementation.
