Struggling to keep his eyes wide open but still responding to the music playing from a campaign vehicle is a man aged 50 something. As he leans against the wall at a bus stop at a busy junction, an acquaintance approached him and asked: “How much did you get?” The other person lifted his hand and raised two fingers to convey that he got Rs 2,000. To which he replied, “I heard there is going to be another round. Do you think we will get it tonight?” The first person nodded his head with a smile. They were talking about the money they received in return for casting their votes.
These scenes were witnessed in the Amaravati capital region in Andhra Pradesh. As fierce campaigning of various political leaders for the assembly and general elections ended on Tuesday, parties go on a vote-purchasing spree. In various constituencies of Guntur and Vijayawada district, some of which constitute the capital region, the base price of each vote is touching new highs.
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“An envelope with Rs 2,000 was handed to each voter. We were told that another Rs 1,000 will be given tonight. We are waiting for that,” said a carpenter. In these constituencies, wealthy contestants worth hundreds of crores are in fray. Though the minimum price for each vote is currently at Rs 3,000, it could go up.
A local leader on condition of anonymity said, “A night before polling, we can expect another Rs 1,000 or more. It all depends on how much our rival party is spending. If they spend more, then we also have to do it.”
There is a separate package for a small family of voters. They are given anywhere between Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000.
When it comes to spending, then sky is the limit if one were to go by speculation and unverified information.
“Each MLA candidate is spending anywhere between Rs 30 crore to Rs 40 crore. Those who are contesting for the MP seat have to shell out Rs 70 to Rs 100 crores,” said a senior political party leader belonging to the region.
