New Delhi:
The Election Commission, or the EC, has put in place an elaborate mechanism, including the deployment of expenditure observers in every assembly segment across the country, to check the use of money power during the campaigning for the staggered, nine-phase Lok Sabha polls. (
Read: India votes starting April 7; counting on May 16)
The commission has identified states where the use of money power is more rampant, and additional steps have been taken to monitor the expenditure by the candidates. "In these states, we well depute additional expenditure observers and adequate number of central paramilitary forces in advance to control the use of money power," Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath told reporters. (
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The Election Commission chief admitted that ensuring that the expenditure ceiling of Rs 70 lakh was not breached by the candidates was one of the biggest challenges faced by the poll panel. "The use of money power is one of the foremost challenges, particularly in some states," Mr Sampath said.
States such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have in the past few elections seen a sharp increase in the amount of money being spent by the candidates. Allegations of luring voters by offering cash and booze have flooded the poll panel during the campaigning for the elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
"Flying squads will be station in the states where the role of money power is strong," Mr Sampath pointed out. "In addition, media certification and monitoring will be used to keep a close watch on expenditure," he said.