Paper short abstract:

This paper explores the link between election finance and the economic status of politicians contesting elections.

Paper long abstract:

Contesting elections in India is increasingly expensive, encouraging politicians to accumulate resources in order to develop their political careers. As well as collecting campaign donations, sitting legislators have an incentive to develop business interests. Elected politicians are able to access resources, including regulatory permissions, which can be used to create business opportunities. This paper uses a case study of the DMK candidates for the 2011 Tamil Nadu assembly elections to assess how politicians have developed business careers that support their electoral ambitions. A key issue raised by the paper is the way in which superior assets enable established politicians to sustain their careers and create difficulties for new entrants to politics.