Nagaland parliamentary constituency recorded the lowest candidate expenditure in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with a total spending of just ₹28.76 lakh by all candidates combined, according to data released by the Election Commission of India (ECI). In stark contrast, the Faridkot parliamentary constituency in Punjab saw the highest expenditure, amounting to ₹4.19 crore.
The data was part of a 130-page publication titled “Atlas”, released by the ECI on Wednesday, which provided insights into electors, candidates, voter turnout, election logistics, and expenditures. Among the top 50 parliamentary constituencies with the lowest election spending, Nagaland ranked first.
Nagaland’s lone parliamentary constituency had 2,342 polling stations and an electorate of 1.32 million. However, only three candidates contested the seat, and the voter turnout stood at 57.8%, with approximately 760,000 votes cast. The average spending per elector in Nagaland was significantly lower than in constituencies with higher expenditures.
By comparison, Faridkot, which recorded the highest election expenditure, had 1.59 million electors, 1,688 polling stations, and 28 contesting candidates. The average spending per elector and per voter in Faridkot was ₹26.34 and ₹41.40, respectively, while Nagaland’s figures remained significantly lower.
The “Atlas” also detailed spending by individual candidates. The highest-spending winner was Shashi Tharoor (Congress) from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, who spent ₹94.9 lakh. In contrast, Pratima Mondal of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) spent the least among winners, with just ₹12,500.
Experts have long debated the role of money in elections, with concerns over how financial muscle impacts electoral outcomes. While Nagaland recorded the lowest spending, it remains a question whether lower expenditures reflect a level playing field or highlight deeper electoral dynamics, such as lack of competition or party funding strategies.
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, addressing the launch of the “Atlas”, reaffirmed the robustness of India’s electoral system, asserting that multiple layers of checks ensure transparency in election data collection and reporting. (With inputs from Hindustan Times)