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It cost Narendra Modi $100 million to win the Indian election—here’s how he spent it
Show me the money.(AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
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Devjyot GhoshalManu Balachandran
OBSESSION
Modinomics
an hour ago
The 2014 general elections were estimated to be India’s most expensive—and the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) broke the bank on the way to its biggest ever election victory.




In all, the BJP spent Rs714.28 crore ($115 million) on the 2014 general election campaign, according to the contribution report it filed with theElection Commission of India (ECI) on Jan 12.




That’s about Rs200 crore ($32 million) more than the Congress Party’s expenditure during the 2014 polls—and almost as much as the Rs791 crore ($127 million) that both the parties spent in the 2009 general elections.




The Congress’ expenditure details for 2014 aren’t available on ECI yet (as of early Jan 16.), but here’s the complete breakdown of how the BJP spent its money to secure the most resounding mandate for a single political party since 1984.




The big numbers
The BJP’s total expenditure of Rs714.28 crore ($115 million)—from the date of announcement of the election till its completion (March-May 2014)—was spent by its central unit and various state units.




The latter’s expenses ranged from a few lakhs for some states to nearly Rs100 crore ($16 million) for others, but more than a third of all the BJP’s poll expenditure was spent by the central unit on one item: media advertising.




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The biggest individual recipients of this money were two firms—its media planner, Madison World and chartered aviation provider, Saarthi Airways.




Madison World, founded by Sam Balsara, had won the mandate to handle the BJP’s election campaign in Feb. 2014 and had accounted for 522 out of the 691 transactions the party made for its media campaign.




Saarthi Airways, on the other hand, is promoted by Delhi-based Gulab Singh Tanwar, reportedly a close friend of former BJP’s president and current home minister, Rajnath Singh. The party spent Rs77.83 crore ($12.57 million) on chartering aircrafts for its star campaigners, of which Rs60 crore ($9.7 million) was paid to Saarthi Airways alone.




And this was, in all likelihood, also the most expensive election campaign in the history of Indian democracy—with the BJP spending more than twice of what the Congress dished out for its 2009 win.




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Provincial spending
The remaining chunk of the money was spent by the BJP’s state units, which either used it for media, campaign transport and similar propaganda uses—or simply disbursed the cash to its candidates.




For the states where the BJP has a strong presence and a good grassroots network, the spending was predictably high. But among the five states where it secured most seats, the paltry expenditure by the Uttar Pradesh unit was quite a surprise.




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Bang for the buck
Money, of course, isn’t everything—and so it took a lot more than just big bucks for the BJP to win 282 seats in the general elections.




And while it was, by far, the most successful campaign of all of India’s political parties, the $100 million offensive didn’t pack the most bang for the buck. That honour went to a clutch of small regional parties who spent little to win big.




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But its worth remembering that this is only what the parties declare before the ECI—and that India’s election campaigns are awash withblack money, booze and other persuasive items.




So the actual expenditure could be much, much higher.
 
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http://www.inconversations.com/sadhguru/in-conversation/kiran-bedi/live-webstream

if you have time watch the whole conversation and the big news is on the last 10 minuts

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I had heard of the brilliance of Sadhguru but wanted to hear and see him in person. I got a wonderful opportunity during a conference in Chennai last year. Hearing and seeing him increased my curiosity about him, and when I greeted him at the conference, he invited me to the Isha Yoga Center near Coimbatore.

My secretary Archana and I drove down to the Velliangiri foothills where the ashram is situated. I was truly excited. Sadhguru came across as an exceedingly sharp, original and rational person. There was nothing called blind faith in anything he said. But I still did not know…

We had a light breakfast at the ashram after which I saw the marvel of Dhyanalinga and went around the pristine ashram. It was brimming with joyful people and we met the wonderful children at the Isha Home School. Sadhguru personally drove me around in his jeep. I still hadn’t realized that I was being driven by a teacher who has millions of devotees the world over. I even tweeted my photograph with Sadhguru.

As a parting gift I was given a bag which had a set of DVDs and Sadhguru’s biography (as if to say, please do your homework before you see me next). As I started to read the book, I could not put it down. I now realized I was with a profound mystic. A Yogi. I felt as if I had lost an opportunity to connect with him differently.

My thirst to learn from him increased by the day. I went through his website and youtube videos. (I do it daily now!) For me, it became a daily source of nutrition. Every day I got better clarity in my approach to many issues and events. I started to share many of these links with my family and colleagues. I was benefitting so much now that I wanted the same for them. I told my sister Anu, and my nephew living in the US to do the course. I asked them to prioritize this over everything else. After the course, she has not looked back.

As destiny would have it, an invite came for a special event, to be “In Conversation” with Sadhguru on the “Making of a Nation.” That would be a rare challenge! Was this “divinely engineered?”

I decided to experience at least the basic course called “Inner Engineering,” offered by Sadhguru before I was to meet the profound Mystic again. I, with my key team leaders of both my foundations, requested for a course. Swami Nakshatra and Maa Ekisha at the Isha center in Delhi accommodated our preferred dates. They gave us their very best. They succeeded in altering some of our very hard, closed attitudes. And guess what, our day of initiation was the day of Buddha Pournami. What more could I ask for.

.@thekiranbedi: Blessed on #Buddha Pournami by completing #InnerEngineering @ishafoundation. Gratitude to @SadhguruJV pic.twitter.com/cqBerRYioT

— Isha Foundation (@ishafoundation) May 14, 2014

And now, the entire staff of over one hundred from both organizations and all responsibilities – teachers, record keepers, office cleaner, food maker, office keepers, drivers and others – will be sitting through the course in the next few days. Those of us who have done the course already will be volunteering and serving them (breaking barriers for the first time).

I have kept up my Shambhavi Mahamudra kriya since then. As have my colleagues. It is already a habit! Each one is much more aware of our thoughts and actions. Each one is much more self-driven. Each one is calmer and in control of themselves. Each one is more joyous at work and at home. Each one feels more energetic. Each one is much more productive through the day! What does one want for oneself and one’s team members? This is what the association with Isha Foundation and doing the course has done.

I am convinced that without such experiential learning, just “book education” is mere information – a surface skill. Its roots may not be deep enough to take the onslaughts of life. But then, who will alter the current state of affairs where book learning prevails? Will the parents do it or the teachers? Or will social leadership do it? Or the students themselves? They need to know what is missing. Who initiates this process?

Let’s ask Sadhguru for answers. Because we need them. And offer a plan for Mr Narendra Modi and his new government aspiring and determined to carve a new India! These answers will be heard on June 6th, during the “In Conversation with Sadhguru” event on the “Making of a Nation.” Hope to see you all then. It will be a blessing for all of us who are present and listening.

In the past, doing Vipassana from Guru Goenkaji was a treasure, then came the Art of Living from very caring Sri Sri, and now the powerful Inner Engineering Course from Sadhguru. Making my life purposeful.

For me it’s a big leap towards an endless journey.
 
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You know what we have got a Raj guru for this country.......... but in disguise

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Spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev would hold a three-day workshop on "inner engineering" for Andhra Pradesh ministers, bureaucrats, mayors and others here from January 29.

"Vasudev, founder of Isha foundation, would conduct the programme on January 29, 30 and 31," said a release issued by the AP government today.

Vasudev had met state chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu here last week.
 
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Is it just me or has more people joined BJP this week than those RSS could bring back to Hinduism via gharwapsi? :o:
 
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Haan But did he buy a ticket to travel yaa aise hee phokhat me(purani aadat jo hai) logon ki seat zabardasti maarli hogi....

Why? When Mullahs can go to Haj free of cost using taxpayers' money, why a Hindu sanyasi travelling by train raises so much of contempt and ridicule from the sickulars? Specially when the said person is a democratically elected MP who is entitled to travel free of cost in the Indian railways like any other MP?
 
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Why? When Mullahs can go to Haj free of cost using taxpayers' money, why a Hindu sanyasi travelling by train raises so much of contempt and ridicule from the sickulars? Specially when the said person is a democratically elected MP who is entitled to travel free of cost in the Indian railways like any other MP?

Why is your @ss on fire:chilli:? Cancel the subsidy, who's stopping the Feku Govt or for that matter the previous AB's NDA Government. It is because of Hajis that Govt airlines get to earn some profits, else who would want to buy overpriced air tickets...

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Why is your @ss on fire:chilli:? Cancel the subsidy, who's stopping the Feku Govt or for that matter the previous AB's NDA Government. It is because of Hajis that Govt airlines get to earn some profits, else who would want to buy overpriced air tickets...

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Yeah, you smelled it right, you habitual a$$ sniffer :enjoy::p::sniper:
 
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Yeah, you smelled it right, you habitual a$$ sniffer :enjoy::p::sniper:

You seem to be weak in comprehending things.... I don't have sniff to see if something is on fire.... Do you go and sniff if you see something's on fire...:hitwall:

Anyways I don't really take trolls seriously, so please don't quote me as you won't be getting a reply from my end and carry on with your :blah::blah::blah:....
 
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Haan But did he buy a ticket to travel yaa aise hee phokhat me(purani aadat jo hai) logon ki seat zabardasti maarli hogi....
Actually MP's get to travel free.
(a) One free non-transferable first class air-conditioned or executive class of any train pass which entitled him to travel at any time by any railway in India;

(b) One free non-transferable air-conditioned two-tier railway pass for one person to accompany the member when he travels by rail;

Its nice that they see the same roads and coaches that we see and encounter.
Any way I am impressed. I'm not asking you to be.
 
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