Where money makes politics and vice versa

Ex-MP S. Ramachandraiah's words, "It is time elders realise they are unwanted in politics," described the thinking in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) which is taking pains to invest in younger people having already achieved a brand name that sells.

But this has irked senior citizens in the party who feel ignored. Minte Padmanabham, once a powerhouse in the East Godavari district, rejoined the party along with ex-MP Buchi Maheswara Rao without much fanfare, and got an even cooler reception when he asked for a desk in the TDP's headquarters.

Men like Padmanabham forget however they show up only around election time to rejoin the party they quit or another they are crossing over to, while others have been waiting on the bench for years sometimes and whose services are not even used in an advisory capacity.

Political parties are also looking for men with deep pockets unmindful of the Election Commission's (EC) guidelines on election expenditure.

Ticket aspirants say this time expenditure to lure voters will go up. The cost in an urban constituency like Hanamkonda for instance could go up to Rs10 million to campaign in 89 villages, which only proves that issues really do not matter, it is the 'currency trick' that matters.

In Warangal and Karimnagar districts the TDP spent between Rs5 million and Rs10 million per constituency in the last election. This time it is prepared to spend more. Surprisingly, even the Telangana Rashtra Samithi has the money to spend because its leaders are rich.

"As money plays a role in the voting pattern, new parties will look for candidates from the creamy layer," a professor at Kakatiya University said.

This could be the costliest election in history. Candidates say they are willing to spend Rs10 million. For the Congress and TDP this is the mother of all wars, one where chequebooks will have to be carried into battle. A miss for either Congress or TDP would be even costlier later. The EC's ceiling is Rs1 million.

There is so much money to be made in politics, aspirants and legislators say, politicians are willing to invest between Rs2.5 million to Rs1 million or more.

The biggest expense is paying out hard cash to select groups in the constituency.

A wiser field activist now expects nothing short of an air-conditioned van if the weather is hot, good food, refreshments and a daily wage. Take or leave it.