Over the last few decade’s politics as business grown a lot. The youth are now choosing it as one of their career options and they are doing it right. As in last few years it becomes the most promising business in India.
Business and Politics
Business and Politics is now going hand in hand. In recent time political parties and leaders are using all the opportunity to promote themselves along with their party. They are hiring Public Relation agency to create their image. In short span on their tenure they are literally multiplying their assets. The competition now changed as how first can you multiple your assets. Corporation becomes the biggest pillar of this business. Now a days, the concept of serving people is become less important. In recent times politics become a costly affairs. As the sources of income is increasing, the joining barriers are also become bigger day by day. With the increasing cost of election campaigning it become tougher to stand in election.
Cost in terms of Investment
If someone willing to stand in an election, you must a big pocket. One cannot win an election only by public support. The overall campaign gets costlier day by day. As an example in 2009 the maximum expenditure in a Parliament Constituency was Rs 25 Lakhs and for an Assembly Constituency it was Rs 10 lakhs only and in last 10 year it become almost 300% of it. Till 2020, the election commission allowed to spend Rs 70 lakh in campaign for a Parliament seat and Rs 28 lakh for assembly seat. More over the current government increase the limit 10 % in October, 2020 which makes it Rs 77 lakh for a Parliament Constituency and Rs 30.8 lakh for an Assembly Constituency.
Along with these limits the candidate is using corporate PR agency to promote themselves. The overall campaign become more of a corporate engagement. A big team is continuously working behind each candidate from his/her speech to his/her dress and appearance, everything is controlled by the party and his/her PR tram. That is the reason now some corporates are coming out with specialized in election campaign. The leading parties are also becoming dependent on such type of PR agencies.
Return on Investment
As the team suggests, the leaders are also very interested in what they are getting in return for such a huge amount in election campaigns. There are both good and bad ways to earn as an elected member. If we see, an elected Member of Parliament gets Rs 1,00,00 per month along with 70,000 as constitution allowance and 60,000 as secretarial allowance. This salary increase 100 percent in the 2018 budget. And along with the high salary cap, they are also eligible for the elite service from the Government of India such as security and other travel features. Even they get all other things like newspaper, gas connection and the telephone connection for free of cost. So they are getting a good opportunity to save a lot of money.
That is one of the reasons for the MPs to become richer day by day. One can earn a minimum of one crore rupees in his 5-year tenure. Moreover, once you get elected and complete your 5 years tenure, you will be getting the pension for your lifetime. Along with all the earning methods, if you win as an independent candidate, your support for any party is become valuable. The ruling party will buy your support to strengthen their grip or the opposition Operation will try to get your support to dethrone the ruling party.
For an MLA that is a member of the assembly, the salary cap is a bit lower. Their salary cap varies from Rs 20,000 to Rs 1, 10,000 depending on their states. Each state has their different salary scale. Also for a big assembly, the salary is high. Along with the salary, they will get all other benefits as said earlier such as the constitution allowance and the secretariat allowance. The allowance also varies. Where Telangana and Delhi offer the highest for each selected member. It is near about Rs. 1, 00,000 to 1,10,000. And the lowest offered by Tripura and Manipur. They offer a sum of Rs. 30,000 as salary. On average one selected MLA is getting around Rs. 70,000 as salary. But it is not only about the salary they are getting a lot more allowance and funds to use.
For example, an MLA from Uttarpradesh gets a salary of Rs 75,000 per month. But along with the salary, he will get Rs 7.5 crore on his MLA fund for the development of his constituency. He will also get Rs 24,000 as Diesel expenditure along with the secretariat, mobile and medical expenses. Besides, he will be getting free accommodation and food in Government lodges and guest houses. So, Adding all the expenses an MLA is getting around Rs 1.87 lakh per month.
All these stats are available for his elected 5 years of tenure. But it, not the end. Once you are elected, you are also eligible for a pension. The MLAs are getting an average pension of Rs 30,000 along with diesel expenses and all other allowances. He is also getting the lifetime free pass to travel in 1st Class in train and medical facilities.
It is very important to mention that these salaries are growing by leaps and bounds. In, last 7 years the salary is increased on an average of 125 percent. For Delhi, it is the highest. It increases around 450 percent wherein in Telangana it is around 170 percent.
Political Party as a Corporate House
In recent times, the political parties are operating as big corporate houses. From having their PR team to their process of recruiting leaders, they went a lot ahead. Now you cannot easily join a party without your background checks. The parties focusing on young leaders having sound knowledge of politics and studies. They are focused to get the best out of the lot. So, before joining a party you should have a sound experience of these activities. And once you join a party you are under their ethics and law. You cannot break that.
Nowadays it is a very common thing for an employee to switch their job. The same goes for these political parties. It becomes very common for a leader to switch his party to a corporate house. If someone is not comfortable with a particular party he is going to switch. The ideology behind joining a political party becomes less important. And also the dedication and commitment become less important. For those who are switching their political parties, it is like the corporate job and they are going to switch it for their betterment and career growth no matter what the ideology they have.
In a lighter view, it can easily be said that once you join politics as a full-time carrier option and if you can become an elected member of any of the house, your life is secured till the last day. And also you are going to get the best opportunity to multiply your worth.
