The Election Commission of India on May 11 postponed polls to the the R.R. Nagar Assembly constituency from May 12 to 28 following an inquiry into the seizure of 9,564 voter identity cards and other articles in Bengaluru. Counting of votes will be taken up on May 31.
The EC took cognisance of mainly two cases: the impounding of goods worth Rs. 95 lakh, which included more than 5,000 T-shirts bearing the Congress candidate’s name and photograph, on May 6; and the seizure of voter IDs along with 20,700 voter slips, detailed survey papers and other election-related items from a flat in Jalahalli on May 8.
Based on the findings, the EC observed that the current electoral process in the constituency had been vitiated on account of unlawful activities of the candidates and political parties and their workers in planning to allure voters through distribution of freebies and illegal collection of voters IDs and other articles.
Following reports that thousands of voter IDs had been found, the EC had instructed the State Chief Electoral Officer and Bengaluru Police Commissioner to visit the spot. A preliminary report was submitted, after which the EC sent the Deputy Election Commissioner for further inquiry and sought a report within 24 hours.
In his report, the DEC mentioned that several cases had been registered against the accused, including candidate(s) concerning seizure of various materials pertaining to the R.R. Nagar polls.
Field verification revealed that some unknown persons had collected the cards from voters. The police recorded statements of such voters, who disclosed that their cards had been taken away about a month ago in exchange for water cans, and that they were also promised gifts in return.
The water cans seized from their houses bore the Congress candidate’s photograph, the EC said.
The DEC, in his report, said the seizure of cards and other articles suggested a “design to induce the voters in a particular manner at the level of parties” and that the process seemed to have started much before the notification of polls. A detailed assessment of the voters on the basis of their caste and location had been done. Their mobile phones had also been collected.
After analysing the reports, the EC concluded that illegal collection of voter IDs amounted to electoral offence and the seizure of gift items also indicated to an attempt to bribe the voters. Therefore, it decided to defer the polls.
Return illegally collected IDs
The EC has also directed that the illegally collected IDs be returned to the respective voters by May 21.
A special team of observers will be sent by the EC to keep a close watch on election expenditure of the candidates, while the police have been instructed to take strict action against those involved.
