Flying squads to turn off money taps in local polls

Flying squads will play a significant role in checking misuse of money in local bodies elections in the state. For this purpose, the State Election Commission (SEC) has sought the list of money-sensitive constituencies.

Highly placed sources in the SEC said, “After the disqualification of a BSP sitting MLA, Umesh Yadav, in Uttar Pradesh for paid news, the focus will now be in Maharashtra.”

The SEC is under pressure from the EC. The two major challenges before the SEC is to curb the misuse of money by candidates/parties and paid news. A senior officer admitted, “Time is running out and we have too many loose ends to fix. The delay on the part of political parties in deciding 50% women reservation and method adopted in the local bodies have compounded the problems for the SEC. Last four months were largely spent on the realignment of constituencies. Monitoring of poll expenditure and paid news will require additional force.”
Elections for 27 zilla parishads, 310 panchayat samitis, 14 municipal corporations and 10 municipal councils will be held between December and February. Unlike in the state assembly and general elections, monitoring the misuse of money and muscle power at the grass roots gets more complicated for officials working with limited network.

Flying squads deployed in money-sensitive zones will not be given any other work. They have to rush to the spot on receiving complaints regarding distribution of cash or liquor or any other item by political parties or candidates to lure the voters. The entire process is also expected to be video-recorded to establish evidence against those giving bribe and those receiving it.