Election Commission seizes Rs 1,760 crore worth drugs, cash, liquor in poll-going states

The Election Commission has deployed 228 officers as expenditure observers. Representation pic

The Election Commission on Monday said over R1,760 crore worth of freebies, drugs, cash, liquor and precious metals aimed at inducing voters in the five poll-going states have been seized so far. The poll panel said the seizures made since the polls were announced on October 9 are over seven times (R239.15 crore) the seizures made in the previous assembly elections in these states in 2018.

While assembly polls have already been held in MP, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, voting will take place in Rajasthan and Telangana on November 25 and November 30 respectively.

According to an EC statement, seizures worth over R1,400 crore were made in the past six state assembly elections held in Gujarat, HP, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Karnataka, which was 11 times the seizures made in previous elections in these states.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had stressed on inducement-free elections to ensure a level-playing field for all candidates and parties. This time, the commission has also embedded technology into the monitoring process through the Election Expenditure Monitoring System (ESMS) which is proving to be a catalyst, as it brought a wide array of central and state enforcement agencies together for better coordination and intelligence-sharing, the statement said.

PM Modi ‘controls' everything, says Kharge

Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "controls" everything - from ports to airports - and he is working towards making people "slaves".

Addressing a public meeting in Anupgarh in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan ahead of the November 25 assembly polls, Kharge said the Congress will work to address people's issues and concerns and deliver on the promises made to them.

"Perhaps the prime minister is also touring this area. Wherever we intend to go, we do not get permission to fly. This means everything is under his control. Air, land, ports and airports, all are under his control. He is working towards making people slaves," the Congress president said, without elaborating. Prime Minister Modi addressed a few election rallies in Rajasthan on Monday.

BJP seeking votes on religion not work

Attacking the BJP, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday said that those who seek votes in the name of religion or caste are not in a position to ask for votes on the basis of their work. Addressing a rally in Kekdi in poll-bound Rajasthan's Ajmer, Vadra asked people to vote after evaluating the work done by different parties.

Not UCC, but free speech needed more

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said the Uniform Civil Code is not required in the country, criticising the BJP for promising to implement it, and stressed the need for more freedom of speech and expression whereby people will not be targetted for their attire and religion. He was reacting to BJP's promises in its Telangana poll manifesto.

KCR is No. 1 in corruption: Shah

Alleging that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar is "number one in corruption" in the country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said the BJP would conduct a probe into the BRS government's "corrupt deals" if it comes to power in the state and put those who indulged in corruption behind bars.

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