Money, money, money: the tycoon factor in India's election

Message in a bottle ... artist Basavaraj poses with a creation showing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his election rival Rahul Gandhi. [AFP]

India's tycoons are playing a pivotal role in the Asian giant's most expensive election ever, from funding campaigns and tacit endorsements to being hot-button issues themselves.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's re-election bid has received huge financial backing from corporate India, raising fears about the integrity of the world's largest democratic process, experts say.