A possible way out is state funding—certainly not of elections, but of political parties. This can be easily done by the state paying a fixed sum to a party for every vote secured. Thus, if a political party gets, say, one crore votes, it is entitled to state funding of 100 crore (@ 100 per vote). In the year 2009–2010 the funds raised by major national parties from all sources (including donations and contributions) were as follows: (figures in bracket indicate the percentage of funds received as donations and contributions): INC 468 cr (21%), BJP 258 cr (86%), BSP 56 cr (50%), CPM 73 cr
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