Cash for vote

Since March 4 when the model code of conduct came into force in Tamil Nadu the Election Commission has seized Rs 100 crore, of which Rs 30 crore was returned after verification of documents. Cash seizures are common in every election. That is because there is no credible follow-up investigation linking the cash seizure to the owner-politician/political party and action strong enough to be a deterrent. Media reported cash seizures in Punjab in the last election but none faced any punishment. In Tamil Nadu now all that the EC has done is to put off the poll in two constituencies. That is a minor inconvenience.  

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Tamil Nadu and Punjab have earned notoriety in pre-poll freebies and post-poll subsidies. There is one difference, however. In Tamil Nadu political leaders do not distribute drugs. For the first time, the Election Commission has served notice on Tamil Nadu’s two main political parties — the DMK and the AIADMK, both of which have promised huge subsidies in their manifestos to lure voters — asking them to explain how they would fund their promises. The EC has said  irrational promises made in manifestos are a violation of the code of conduct. This is a step forward in the EC’s efforts to clean up the electoral process and make political parties accountable. It has, however, limited powers to punish defiance.

Voter-leader complicity makes its task harder. Some people even justify cash distribution, saying this was the only way to extract something from corrupt leaders in a non-transparent system. In the 2014 general election the Election Commission seized Rs 331 crore. The maximum amount was from Andhra Pradesh followed by Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. In drugs seizure Punjab topped the list and in liquor seizure it was at number two after Andhra, according to the Election Commission data. Lack of stiff action has encouraged poll code and poll law violations. Contestants have got used to understating their poll expenses. The Congress and the BJP have not submitted their audited accounts since 2010. Other than demanding reforms to stem the black money influence on elections the Election Commission has done little else.