Fiscal discipline: resist electoral promises that shift recurring costs onto taxpayers and undermine budgetary stability.
Electoral campaigns and post election welfare promises shift recurring fiscal burdens onto taxpayers: corporate donors cover immediate campaign outlays while promised subsidies, free utilities and guaranteed employment create long term public expenditure commitments. Although GST and fiscal frameworks have improved accountability at the Centre, significant unrecorded spending and state level promise making evade constraints. Voters, taxpayers and judicial oversight are urged to check unsustainable electoral pledges that threaten fiscal discipline and persistent tax increases. (AI Summary)