Media - a good sector to bet on !

Congress and BJP are expected to end up spending about Rs 200 crore each this time. These expenses will cover the cost of running the propaganda machine as well as lumpsum payments to the candidates. Strong regional parties such as the BSP, BJD, JDU, DMK and NCP that hold power in key states, as well as parties such as the SP and AIADMK and Shiv Sena which have held power earlier and are very much in the reckoning, will also not count their pennies. Put together, they could end up spending another Rs 250 crore, if not more.

But for the economy, it's not what is on paper that matters but the reality on the ground. For providers of vehicles, shamianas, posters, sound systems, and sundry other services there's big money coming their way.