Note for vote: 1,000-2000 per vote was the norm

On the day before polling, in many areas of the city, residents woke up to a knock on their doors at around 1 am, when they were greeted by a local leader. Money was distributed in most of the areas that ranged from Rs 1,000-2,000 per vote depending on the importance of the seat and the candidates in the fray. Families with three or four votes even got up to Rs 5,000. The pattern was rampant in Manikeswari Nagar, Addagutta, Indira Nagar Colony and other basthis.

BJP and TDP leaders alleged that Congress had distributed money on the Election Day. “Liquor and money were distributed door-to-door from 2 am in many basthis in the city, on Wednesday,” said Kishan Reddy, BJP Telangana president.

Uppal constituency presented an interesting case, out of seven divisions in the constituency Congress and TRS reportedly distributed money on the wee hours of the Election Day in 4 and 3 divisions respectively.

In case of Sanathnagar, reports say that Congress and TRS will score in basthis as they have distributed money. TDP reportedly distributed money in colonies. Qutubullapur presented an interesting case as the leaders say that money distribution effort was futile as people had voted for image.

The Election Commission had decided to make use of the popular technology of mobile phone cameras to nab people who distribute money to woo voters. The Commission encouraged people to lodge complaints on money distribution with photo or video proof on which it would act and ensure punishment for the wrong-doers with imprisonment for one year, Chief Electoral Officer, Bhanwarlal, said.

The official had also said, “All those booths where voters were prevented from casting their votes through intimidation in the past, where more than 75 per cent votes were polled, where a single candidate had got more than 75 per cent votes, where the number of votes polled was very less or where any untoward incident was reported will be classified as critical.”

“As the EC had developed new systems to track illegal money transfers, political parties evolved out-of-the-box methods to hoodwink them. Parties have routed the cash through individuals and organisations, who then distributed them to the intended beneficiaries. This way, no direct link could be established with the party even if the cash was seized,” shared a political analyst.

“Cricket kits were distributed to the youth associations in various locations. Instead of directly distributing, the local leaders gave them a written slip and the address to collect the gift,” he added.

It was reported that many leaders panicked when the EC released polling percentage at 11am. All parties have summoned their local leaders and pulled out all stops (gifts, money and transportation) to increase polling.

“I have seven votes in my family. I was contacted by three parties Congress, TRS and TDP they offered me and my family money for voting in favour of them. I have rejected the Congress and TDP offer and went with the TRS. They paid Rs 750 per vote. They also arranged transportation till the polling station,” said Mallu, an ATM security guard.

Many parties have resorted to innovative methods such as distributing tiffin boxes with cash in them or paying voters’ electricity bills. In the city, money was transferred to the bank accounts of Aadhaar card holders by a Congress MLA. Gifts were hidden in secret locations well before an election and then distributed in the middle of the night. Lavish parties — not the political kind — are thrown, where booze and biryani were the preferred menu.

Apparently a day before polling, residents of Tondapalli village in Shamshabad, came out and made a gallant statement, “We don’t need any development related promises, give us the money we will repair the roads, and we will give you votes.”

The residents of the area demanded cash from Rs 2000-3000 from all the major political parties, as they were convinced that the contestants would not keep their promises. The residents came to the fore because in Sultanpalli village in Shamshabad, Rs 500-1000 was distributed by all major parties.

“At times political parties will call in a bogus tip-off. This way, they will know where our team will be and they will distribute cash and gifts in another location,” said an EC official, reminding of ploys smugglers used to distract the police in Hindi cinema of the bygone era.