When I was in rural Nellore for work in 2019, I was told I could “earn” ₹10k (about SGD 160) if I voted for a party. When I told them i was on the electoral rolls in, ummm, Singapore and not in India, was told that was a “small” matter that could be adjusted away.

But that’s not the point of this tale. The point is: despite pumping in so much money for “buying” votes, the owner of a corporate college chain, and the then ruling party he belonged to, went on to lose the election.

That’s exactly what’s about to happen again in 2023 in neighbouring Telangana. The ruling party is pumping in ₹10k-15k per vote, but is set to lose the elections now.

Then as it is now, parties don’t lose votes despite paying so much. They lose _because_. They pay so much because they know they’ll lose and are desperate. Indian voters may not be educated but can smell desperation from afar. So they’ll take their money… and still vote as they like.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is the power of a secret ballot in universal adult franchise.

https://scroll.in/article/1059822/how-cash-for-votes-could-swing-the-telangana-elections