When Cash Matters More Than Good Governance

Newsreel Asia Insight #60
Dec. 1, 2023

In the fields of Telangana, a different kind of crop is harvested every election season – votes, bought and sold like market commodities, according to a media report. The state, known for its rich history and vibrant culture, is now gaining notoriety for a practice that undermines the very essence of democracy.

Imagine a marketplace where instead of vegetables, votes are laid out, with price tags fluctuating based on demand. This may not be far from reality in Telangana’s electoral landscape. Here, the currency of choice is cold, hard cash, and the buyers are political parties, according to Scroll.in.

The phenomenon is not a clandestine operation whispered about in hushed tones. It appears to be as open as a bazaar. In villages and towns across Telangana, the practice of vote-buying seems to be as normal as the morning chai.

The mechanics of this vote-buying are as fascinating as they are disheartening. The going rate for a vote hovers around 10,000 rupees, soaring to 15,000 rupees in tight races, according to the media outlet. It’s a transaction as straightforward as buying groceries, but what’s being sold is far more valuable – the democratic right to choose a government.

In urban areas like Hyderabad, the currency of corruption takes a different form – gifts, like crockery sets, distributed with a wink and a nod. It’s a sophisticated version of the rural cash-for-vote system, but the underlying principle remains the same.

The Telangana Police recently suspended three officers for allegedly trying to shield associates of a legislator, who was found with 1.8 million rupees in cash allegedly meant for voter distribution, Deccan Chronicle reported.

The roots of this issue run deep, tracing back to the 1980s, when public works contracts would be awarded to private firms, Scroll.in points out. It’s a legacy that has been passed down through generations, evolving into a well-oiled machine where government contracts and skyrocketing real estate prices in Hyderabad fuel the fire of vote-buying.

This normalisation of corruption in elections is like a game of cards where everyone knows the deck is stacked, yet they continue to play, hoping to draw the ace of cash. It’s a game where the rules are skewed, and the winner is often the one with the deepest pockets, not the best policies.

A voter, Chintakindi Shekhar, tells Scroll.in that he’s frustrated with the Chief Minister’s unfulfilled promises but quickly acknowledges that, in the end, it’s the cash that matters. He seems to have resigned himself to the notion that votes are merely a means to an end, rather than an instrument for change.

In this scenario, the voter, perhaps disillusioned and cynical, plays along. It’s a “pragmatic” approach, born out of a long-standing belief that promises are seldom kept, and performance in governance is a secondary consideration. The voter’s disillusionment is like a mirror reflecting a broken system, where the reflection is distorted by the cracks of corruption.

This disillusionment is a powerful tool in the hands of the political class. It breeds a sense of resignation among the electorate, a belief that nothing will change, so why not benefit from the system, however flawed it may be? It’s a vicious cycle, where disillusionment feeds corruption, and corruption deepens the disillusionment.

But perhaps not all is lost. A political leader suggests to Scroll.in that there’s a conversion ratio, indicating that not everyone who takes the money votes as directed. It’s a small glimmer of hope, a sign that perhaps the system isn’t entirely broken.

In the end, the culture of corrupt election practices in Telangana is a reflection of a deeper malaise – a resignation to the status quo, and a belief that in the game of politics, cash is king. This needs to change, but for that to happen, the players themselves need to believe in the possibility of a different story, one where votes are earned, not bought.