Fund your own elections

Tamil Nadu parties have donations/contributions as one of their three main sources of income

• The two major parties of Tamil Nadu, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), have listed nomination fees as one of the major sources of income. This tells us that while the AIADMK encourages candidates to fund their elections (on the assumption that the nomination fee is redistributed among all candidates, with the wealthier ones cross-subsidising those with a chance of winning but not affording the fees), the DMK follows a less redistributive model
   
• Interest collected is also one of the highest sources of income for the parties
   
• It is to be noted that 'net surplus from specific funds' is listed as the top item of income by DMK, details of which are not available in the income-tax returns of the party but forms 59 per cent of its total income