Politicians seem to be taking care of not just their loyal electorates, but also those who indulge in bogus voting to ensure their win in the Mumbai civic polls.
Politicians seem to be taking care of not just their loyal electorates, but also those who indulge in bogus voting to ensure their win in the Mumbai civic polls.
According to sources, a few slum dwellers from Navi Mumbai are being offered Rs500 to Rs2,000 per head to cast bogus votes during the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election on February 16.
The rates, sources said, depend on the ward where the bogus vote is cast — the more posh the area, the higher the rate.
“Bogus voting takes place in most elections. With Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) and BMC polls around the corner, groups of bogus voters from Airoli, Digha, Rabale and Turbhe in Navi Mumbai are set to become active,” said a source.
The source added that until the voting day is over, agents appointed by politicos to pool bogus voters take care of everything - from bringing them to the polling booths until they are dropped home.
“Politicos offer money to agents in bulk with instructions to get the desired results. The agents ensure that the bogus voters are kept happy by offering them liquor and snacks, etc until they cast their vote,” the source added.
Shiv Sena corporator and chairman of the civic law committee Rajiv Chaugule said it was not only Navi Mumbai, bogus voters are likely to hit Mumbai from other parts of the state where polls are scheduled.
“Some parties indulge in such malpractices because it is not mandatory for voters to carry a photo identity proof. If the election commission asks for ration card as identity proof, how will one know if the voter is genuine? Even 2% of bogus voting can be a deciding factor in a particular ward,” Chaugule said.
A senior BJP corporator, who did not wish to be named, confirmed that agents are offered huge amounts of money to get bogus voters, who get peanuts.
“The funds provided to agents depend on a candidate’s financial capacity,” he said, adding that polling agents appointed by parties and officials deployed at booths are also at times part of the nexus.
State election commissioner Neela Satyanarayan said they were taking every precaution to ensure there is no bogus voting.
“We are eliminating every possibility of bogus voting. We are marking names which have appeared twice on a list. Names of the deceased too are being marked. So, we are ensuring that only genuine voters are part of the list prepared for the civic elections,” Satyanarayan said.
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