Candidates ‘book’ voters by doling out freebies much before polls

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Much before the Election Commission of India announces the code of conduct for the Assembly polls due to be held in the next two to three months, ticket-aspirants of all three political parties have already started distributing freebies to woo voters of their respective constituencies. Everyone knows quite well that there is no restriction on the distribution of freebies to voters now since the election dates are yet to be announced.

The checkposts, flying squads, and curbs on giving anything free to voters would come into effect after the code of conduct comes into effect. The Assembly polls held in 2018 witnessed the seizure of truckloads of pressure cookers, several thousands of bundles of saris, mixers, grinders, colour TVs, and other freebies from constituencies across the state belonging to the candidates of political parties.

Besides, several crores of rupees was seized from vehicles while it was being transported illegally. Most of the candidates never came forward to claim the seized material belonging to them. So, it is stored in government godowns as it must be produced before the court as evidence.

To avoid these complications, candidates have already resorted to distributing freebies in many Assembly constituencies. Hebbal Congress MLA Byrati Suresh reportedly distributed sleek colour TVs, KPCC Working President Ramalinga Reddy distributed pressure cookers while Industries Minister Murgesh Nirani reportedly distributed saris and sugar among all voters.

The BJP hopeful from BTM Layout Bharath Shetty distributed pressure cookers by showing voters the ‘sub-standard’ cookers distributed by sitting Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy. Saris were given to the voters of Shikaripura by fans of sitting MLA BS Yediyurapa to coincide with his birthday next week.

Trips are also being sponsored to famous pilgrimage spots of south India. It is learnt that candidates of political parties have placed orders with wholesale leaders for the supply of pressure cookers, colour TVs, mixers, grinders, mobile phones, saris, silver ornaments, nose rings, ear studs, nose studs, white dhotis and shirts well in advance so that the articles are delivered early and can be distributed before the code of conduct come into effect.

The officials, despite knowing this quite well, cannot do anything till they are given powers by the Election Commission to check malpractices during the election.

Already, the cash meant to be distributed among voters is reportedly safely stashed with trusted aides of the candidate in every constituency and would be taken out only a day before polling. One can’t help wondering what’s the point in having checkposts, vigilance squads and flying squad when everything is done much before the polls?