Parties new ways to hoodwink poll watchdog

​Hyderabad: With the Election Commission keeping a hawk eye on all poll-bound assembly segments, political parties are finding unique ways in ensuring money and liquor reach voters before the polling day on December 7.

Conduct of fake birthday parties, friends’ get-togethers, marriage anniversary celebrations, religious congregations and local school functions are being conducted to supply liquor and money to the voters. The political party and contestants’ close aides meet the voters in the guise of functions and supply the gifts to them. 

The Commission officials accompanied by police and Excise officials are conducting regular checks in all villages to curb distribution of money and liquor by the parties and candidates. The strict vigilance by the commission has created a big hurdle to all parties to allure the voters.

According to sources, some party leaders have found alternatives to woo the locals in the election campaign. In many cases, the local leaders were entrusted to purchase liquor in advance from the nearby licensed liquor shops and arrange parties like birthday celebrations of their children, marriage anniversary and local religious functions in the temples. 

Selected families in and around the villages are invited to the programmes where they are offered liquor bottles, present small gifts at their wish and also distribute money to the voters who are also provided free transportation facility to attend the fake functions. 

In some cases, community feasts are being organised in the afternoon and night attended by the contestants as chief guests. The party candidate will hold a meeting with the community leaders and discuss their demands. 

Before leaving the function, the leaders give the assurance of fulfilling the voters demands ranging from holiday trips, smart phones, educational expenses to their children and also providing financial help to the poor in the community.

Women members of the DWACRA are playing key role in gathering women to attend the functions. In some urban areas in the districts, local community organisations are conducting night parties in the star hotels in Hyderabad and invited families to have a lavish buffet and costly gifts. 

All the expenditure will be borne by the contestant. Leaders said that the distribution of money to the voters has been a risky affair as the Commission has kept an eagle eye on every movement of the people at local level.