How Political Freebies Are Turning Democracy Into A Clearance Sale?

Welcome to the grand Indian political circus, where democracy is being sold at a discount and freebies are the new vote magnets! Let’s explore how our beloved politicians are turning election campaigns into shopping festivals, where everyone gets a gift – except the bill comes later, with interest.

Maharashtra Money Mystery of Freebies

Let’s start with the state that has everyone’s dream place, The Mayanagari!

Take Maharashtra, for example – a state that’s become a masterclass in how to promise the moon while your pockets are full of holes. The state government has managed to rack up potential debt of ₹7.8 lakh crores, all in the name of electoral generosity. It’s like maxing out your credit cards to throw a party where everyone gets presents, except the credit card belongs to your grandchildren.

Let’s break down this shopping list of political generosity:

• ₹96,000 crores expenses for various sops, under which, a staggering 46,000 crore annually went to Ladki Bahin Yojana
• Free power for agricultural pumps (because in India- Paise ped me ugte hai!!!)
• Scholarship schemes for EWS girls
• Free gas cylinders for 52 lakh households (because who needs fiscal responsibility when you can have free gas?)

Now Debuts The Mathematical Migraine

Here’s where it gets interesting (or terrifying, depending on your perspective):

• Revenue: ₹4.99 crores (2024-25)
• Planned expenses: ₹5 lakh crores
• Existing debt: ₹2 lakh crores
• Fiscal deficit: Exceeding 3% of GSDP
• Additional unplanned expenses: ₹1.3 lakh crores with 7.8 lakh crores debt

It’s like planning a wedding when you can barely afford dinner, but hey, who’s counting?

The Three Horsemen of Financial Apocalypse

To fund this generosity spree, the government has three magical options:

1. Raise debt from the public (because we don’t have enough debt already)
2. Beg for grants from the Centre (the ultimate family loan)
3. Raise taxes and fines (surprise, surprise – the middle class’s favorite nightmare)

The Real Cost of Free Lunch

When governments raise debt, it’s not just a number on a paper. It:

• Increases interest rates
• Squeezes liquidity from the system
• Leaves less money for private businesses
• Fuels inflation (because we definitely needed more of that)

And guess who gets to pay for all this? The middle class – the eternal ATM of Indian governance.

The Great Budget Balancing Act

The government’s solution? Set up a panel to “streamline” payouts and avoid duplicates. It’s like realizing you’ve ordered too much food and trying to decide who actually gets to eat. The beneficiaries will now undergo scrutiny for their “rightful entitlement” – because nothing says efficiency like bureaucracy!

The Democracy Price Tag

This freebie culture isn’t just destroying state finances; it’s corrupting the very essence of democracy. When elections become auctions and votes become commodities, we’re not choosing leaders – we’re selecting the highest bidder. Even the Supreme Court has to intervene and said that ‘are we creating parasites by giving freebies‘?

Lessons for Personal Finance

If there’s anything to learn from this governmental generosity, it’s how NOT to manage money:

• Don’t make promises your wallet can’t keep
• Keep room for unplanned expenses
• Avoid impulsive financial decisions- remember the credit card debt!
• Remember that free things usually come with hidden costs

At The End- Politicians will use this opium and the cancer will spread to democracy!

The next time a politician promises you the world for free, remember: Someone’s paying for it, and that someone is probably you, your children, and your grandchildren. Because in the end, freebies in democracy are like free cheese in a mousetrap – tempting, but potentially fatal.

Let’s spread the word about how these electoral handouts are slowly but surely turning our democracy into a bargain basement sale. Because if we don’t, the price of these “freebies” might just be our economic future.

Remember: Democracy shouldn’t be for sale, even at a discount. Also, When something is free, then you are the product.