Combating Money Culture in 2024 Elections -written by Poonam Chanchlani (BCA, Data Science)

In the context of a recent conclave organized by the Arunachal Electronic and Digital Media Association (AEDMA) to commemorate its 11th foundation day, discussions centered on the prevailing "money culture in elections" in India. It was a consensus among participants that the government-appointed Election Commission of India (ECI) had fallen short of its role as a neutral entity, thereby allowing the infiltration of a money-driven approach in the electoral process.

 

Toko Tatung, the Secretary General of the Arunachal Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), asserted that money has become integral to the functioning of democracy, emphasizing that elections and candidacy pursuits hinge on financial backing. He disclosed that around Rs 600 billion was expended by political parties during the 2019 elections. Tatung regarded the  "money culture"  as a matter of economic fundamentals – supply and demand – and stressed the importance of fostering self-awareness within communities to counteract this phenomenon.

 

Retired Wing Commander Gyati Kago echoed this sentiment, noting that Arunachal Pradesh's elections revolve around a blend of financial transactions and lavish feasts involving the state's symbolic animal, the mithun. Kago criticized the decline of moral values within Arunachalee society, attributing it to the prevalence of corruption and nepotism. He disclosed that, on average, votes were bought and sold at Rs 25,000 per voter during the 2019 assembly elections.

 

Former General Secretary of the All–Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU), Tobom Dai, proposed a collective commitment to eradicating this pervasive "money culture." Dai questioned the transparency and effectiveness of the Election Commission's role in instituting electoral reforms, emphasizing its importance in curbing the influence of financial transactions on development processes.
 

In an attempt to address this issue, the speakers urged AEDMA members to compile a comprehensive report based on the conclave's deliberations. The report's submission to the government aims to instigate actionable steps towards mitigating the detrimental impact of the money-driven approach in elections. The consensus reached during this conclave underscores the urgency of reforming the electoral process to preserve the integrity of democracy in India.