Ahead of the February 16 civic polls, some candidates are promising Rs500 to Rs5,000 to voters after bribing them with Rs10 notes. Bizarre and illegal as it may be, it is a win-win situation for voters as well as candidates.
Trust our politicians to come up with innovative ways of luring voters. Ahead of the February 16 civic polls, some candidates are promising Rs500 to Rs5,000 to voters after bribing them with Rs10 notes. Bizarre and illegal as it may be, it is a win-win situation for voters as well as candidates.
Instead of distributing huge sums, candidates are only giving a Rs10 note to some voters. If the candidate wins, all that the voter needs to do is return that note to prove it was the one given to him. He will then get anywhere between Rs100-Rs5,000. The 'lottery' method ensures cent per cent voting and victory too.
“Firstly, we do not need to distribute big money to voters. Secondly, it ensures the voter casts his vote for the candidate who has given him Rs10 even though others may have paid him more. The greed to get more money is tempting and is like a bonus,” said a BJP candidate for the civic council election in Jalgaon district.
A Shiv Sena corporator who has implemented this ploy for the upcoming civic polls said though illegal, it is not a risky method. “While distributing money, one of our party workers notes down the note numbers. It helps while gifting money to the lottery winners. Also, a new aspirant does not have enough money to play with during elections. So, he prefers the lottery method,” he said. “Once you are elected, you can amass wealth by all means. Else, contesting an election is a big gamble.”
A senior Congress leader recalled bad experiences with voters in the past. “Earlier, if they were paid some money and asked to take an oath in their god’s or forefather’s name, they would vote only for you. The voter is not loyal anymore as every candidate offers him money today. So, despite giving big money, there is no guarantee of securing his vote. It creates confusion among voters,” he said on condition of anonymity.
The new method of bribing voters has raised concerns among people. “It is harmful for our democratic system. Morals should be given priority,” said RTI and social activist Anil Galgali. He said parties must not field goons who have amassed black money through scams. “It can damage the image of the party as well as corrupt the minds of the voters,” said Galgali.
The activist wants the election commission to deploy flying squads to keep a watch on candidates resorting to unlawful means. “It should also hire some cameramen to keep round-the-clock vigil on candidates and their activities,” he said. That will ensure a free and fair election.
The lottery method is called so because just as one buys a lottery ticket for a partly sum and expects to get more, this offers the voters a chance to get more than Rs10 if the candidate wins.
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