Taking a serious view of continuing instances of voters being lured with cash and gifts in the run-up to the April 13 Assembly elections, the Election Commission on Sunday issued a stern warning against such practices that obstruct free and fair elections.
Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar said here in a statement that the Election Commission would be forced to take appropriate action if such incidents were repeated.
The CEO said that in spite of the measures taken by the Election Commission to curb the menace, “in some constituencies incidents of distribution of cash or gifts to lure voters have been detected.”
“The Election Commission of India has viewed it with serious concern as [it is] not conducive to conduct of free and fair elections. The Election Commission of India is watching the situation closely and in case the incidents are repeated, it shall be constrained to take stern measures as may become necessary,” the CEO said.
Mr. Kumar said the Election Commission had taken several measures to check abuse of money power, following pleas by political parties at all-party meetings held prior to the notification of elections. Crores of rupees in cash have been seized in recent days in different parts of the State, he added.
