Every Indian taxpayer is being directly impacted by the unchecked distribution of freebies during state and national elections. Hard-earned public money is being spent to fund schemes that offer cash and benefits to individuals simply for political gain — not for need, merit, or nation-building. Millions of honest citizens, who pay taxes expecting better healthcare, infrastructure, jobs, and education, are watching helplessly as political parties divert this money to distribute unearned cash to vote banks. From Madhya Pradesh’s Ladli Behna Yojana to the recent BJP promise in Bihar to give ₹2 lakh to each of 94 lakh families — totaling ₹1.88 lakh crore — these handouts are not targeted welfare but short-sighted election gimmicks.

What’s at stake is the very future of our democracy and fiscal responsibility. If this trend continues, India risks turning elections into marketplaces where votes are bought, not earned. Just in the last decade, parties have announced over ₹17 lakh crore worth of election freebies, while actual disbursements crossed tens of thousands of crores. To put this in perspective: if even a fraction of this money had been allocated to organisations like ISRO, India could have sent a Mars rover and a sample-retrieval mission by now. Instead, this money is spent with little accountability, often going to people who have contributed nothing in return — no skill, no labour, no national service. This is not welfare; it’s economic populism that penalizes the productive and rewards political loyalty.

Now is the time to act. With national and state finances strained, inflation on the rise, and essential services underfunded, we cannot afford another election cycle bloated with hollow promises. As responsible citizens, we must demand an immediate ban on such irresponsible electoral freebies — a practice that is not just unsustainable but undemocratic. This is not a political issue; it is a national emergency of public finance. We must act now — not after the next ₹1 lakh crore vanishes for votes. Sign this petition and demand accountability. Let taxpayer money build India, not buy votes.