EC’s credibility comes under fire after recent raids

On the eve of the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, Tamil Nadu continued to be on the top spot with most number of cash seizures, amounting to a total of Rs 208.27 crore, including Rs 50 crore seizures through Income Tax raids.

According to confidential public election department sources, more than 20 complaints related to ‘cash for votes’ have been received in the past one week. There were pieces of evidence in at least four incidents, including Vellore and Theni Lok Sabha seats, where there were attempts by the political parties to induce the voters. There were also complaints from Chennai South, Perambalur, Tiruchy, Sivaganga and Madurai and are being ascertained by the local district election officials.

Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo in his routine cash seizure report had also informed the ECI on the latest updates related to the cash seizures. The I-T department had also sent confidential reports to the ECI, sources said.

“Be it the 2017 RK Nagar bypoll or the 2016 state Assembly polls, Tamil Nadu had recorded incidents of heavy cash distribution and they have case studies for the Election Commission,” said an official.

During the previous 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Chennai Central witnessed high inducement for ‘cash for votes’ and heavy election expenditure. This forced the ECI to deploy additional election expenditure observer for the constituency, but there were no complaints from that segment this time,” the official said.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have slammed the Election Commission for being biased towards the ruling AIADMK, alleging that no major cash seizures were reported from the ruling AIADMK. “The EC is acting only against the candidates of opposition parties and there is no strict implementation of the model code of conduct. It has become a laughing stock and DMK chief MK Stalin has also cried foul over the functioning of the Election Commission,” said an AMMK candidate on the condition of anonymity. “Our party propaganda secretary Thanga Tamilselvan has also exposed the Commission for its prejudiced actions”, he added.

However, Sahoo, while commenting on the cash seizures, denied the charges that the ECI was targeting only the opposition parties. “All the complaints, irrespective of the political parties, are being looked into and accordingly, the flying squads are conducting the raids,” the CEO said.