<b>Story in numbers:</b> A story of money and power

Budget promised some changes in funding of political parties and MLAs, via bonds to ensure anonymity

In the unending cycle of elections, what motivates people to contest these? Fame? Commitment to public service? Power? 

All of the above.  But, as the figures show, also money.

Take Goa. It is a small state, with a 40-seat Assembly. The size of constituencies is small and everyone knows everyone. The largest constituency, Vasco, has just over 35,000 voters and the smallest, St Andre, has 20,834. Literacy levels are high, the population is young and victories and defeats are marked by small margins. But, the average increase in assets of MLAs is huge. 

In Punjab, the situation is