Money flows freely ahead of polls

Tirupati: The main political parties in the district have chalked out plans to distribute cash and gifts to the voters prior to four days of the polling date. According to sources, the four main political parties have kept Rs 50 crore ready to distribute to voters in all 14 Assembly constituencies. The political leaders are adopting new techniques to distribute cash as the Election Commission has strengthened the surveillance.

As per the information, the political parties have already set up cash and gifts distribution network points. Instead of involving the contesting candidates in cash distribution, the high command of respective parties has drafted important leaders and special teams for each Assembly constituency. A regional ruling party appointed special observers for distribution of gifts. Another major opposition party set up special teams to distribute the cash and gifts to voters.

Fearing money will be caught, no political party is transporting liquid cash from one place to another. The leadership of political parties assessing how much cash is needed for distribution in urban and rural areas of each segment.

Based on the assessment, the local leaders were given the task to mobilise cash from money lenders and corporate financial companies. The money is being split into small parts and transporting secretly into towns and villages. A relative of a main political party candidate in Tirupati had already kept cash ready in various localities.

Followers of political leaders and ward-level leaders are carrying cash below Rs 50,000 as per the Election Commission rules and handing over at distribution network point. On condition of anonymity, follower of a main political party candidate informed The Hans India that instructions were given not to carry bulk cash. It is learnt that top leadership of main political parties are directly involved in distribution of cash by assigning task to outsiders of the constituencies.