In central TN, ECI officials tighten grip to prevent voter bribery

EYE ON POLLS

In central TN, ECI officials tighten grip to prevent voter bribery

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy: 03.03.2021 

The district election officers (DEO) in the eight districts in the central region of the state have laid a slew of guidelines to the marriage halls, pawn brokers, printers and cable TV operators to cooperate with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure a free and fair election.

The district collectors-cum-DEOs have convened a series of meetings with the owners of the four industries.

ECI has imposed a lot of restrictions on marriage halls to prevent the political parties from bribing voters in the name of conducting any functions. The administration of the marriage halls should intimate the returning officers of the constituency if they rent out their premises to politicians.

The commission has clarified that a certain monitoring process has been put in place to stop political parties from greasing the palms of the voters by giving them gift articles or offering feast to the voters.

The marriage hall administrations have been asked to collect the invitations and the identify proof, which should be communicated to the election official concerned in the constituency. The ECI has also tightened the grip over the pawn brokers. Raising apprehensions about political parties closing the jewellery loans of people as a way of bribing, the commission has ordered the pawnbrokers to intimate the commission in case of anyone making bulk closure of loans.

The printers have also been brought under the scanner. They have been asked to submit the required documents to the election officials with regard to printing posters and other advertisement materials by the political parties. The local cable TV operators have also been advised to telecast political advertisements vetted by media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC). The commission has also warned them of action in case of any violation in the guidelines.