Every election in India looks like a scoreboard—vote share, turnout, seat count. But there’s one number you rarely see: the real cost of fighting elections. While the official spending cap is Rs 40 lakh per candidate, ground reports suggest that serious candidates often spend up to Rs 20–30 crore per constituency.

So where does this money come from? And how is it actually used?

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down the hidden economy of Indian elections, from cash distribution and booth operations to funding networks and voter targeting.

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A BJP candidate’s speech in Kerala’s Guruvayur has sparked controversy after he asked why the constituency does not have a Hindu MLA and invoked the temple deity in his campaign.

Kerala BJP vice president and Guruvayur candidate B Gopalakrishnan framed the election around religious identity, raising concerns about whether such appeals violate India’s Model Code of Conduct.

Critics argue that elections are meant to focus on governance and policy — not religious representation. They also point out that constituencies across India, from Ajmer to Velankanni, have long elected representatives from different faiths without controversy.

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down what was said, why it may violate election rules, and how religion is being brought into campaign politics.

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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, Script by Dhanya Rajendran, Camera by Ajay R, Edit by Nikhil Shekhar

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Lyricist Vairamuthu has been chosen for the Jnanpith Award, India’s most prestigious literary honour. But the announcement has triggered intense debate. Several women accused Vairamuthu of sexual harassment during the #MeToo movement, allegations he has denied.

While many political leaders and film stars have congratulated him, critics say honouring someone facing such accusations sends a troubling message to women in the arts and media industries.

Writers and musicians have also questioned whether his work merits the award.

In this episode of Let Me Explain, Pooja Prasanna breaks down the allegations, the reactions, and why the Jnanpith decision is controversial.

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Produced by Megha Mukundan, Script by Lakshmi Priya, Camera by Ajay R, Edit by Dharini Prabaharan

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