Does winning elections help secure ministerial posts? This paper examines executive particularism in India's government.

Candidate Advantage: Ministers outperform other candidates in electoral outcomes.

This aligns with the theory of executive particularism that suggests ministerial positions could provide protection for incumbents, but evidence shows this doesn't work as a cause-effect relationship.

Causal Finding: Regression analysis reveals that better election performance actually increases chances of being appointed a minister,

not the other way around. Holding office does not appear to shield members from electoral costs; rather it follows successful candidates first.

Research Implications: This finding challenges simplistic views on how party elites use government roles to reward loyalty or insulate themselves.

It suggests that ministerial appointments are more responsive to pre-election political standing than previously thought, raising questions about common assumptions in comparative politics.