Election Commission will curb use of black money strictly for ensuring free and fair elections in Madhya Pradesh. This time, strict watch will be kept on use of black money for elections with a view to strengthening Indian democracy.
This was informed by Election Commission of India’s Director General PK Dash at the daylong workshop here on Thursday. The workshop held at Academy of Administration was participated by officers of Central income tax and customs officers and nodal officers for keeping watch over poll expenses at district level.
The workshop was inaugurated by Madhya Pradesh’s Chief Income Tax Officer AJ Jain. Chief Electoral Officer Jaideep Govind, commission’s Director BB Garg, legal advisor SK Mehandiratta and Academy’s Director Rakesh Agrawal were also present on the occasion.
Dash said that after elimination of problems like booth capturing, the issue of keeping watch over election expenses has emerged as a major challenge. Use of money power is highly improper in a developing country like India. It is due to it that agencies like income tax and customs are being involved to control money power. Excessive poll expenses by candidates are also a serious challenge before the commission where maximum poll expenses by a candidate have been fixed at Rs 16 lakh.
He said that even though there is a law to prevent use of money power in elections, nevertheless, all effective measures will have to be taken to monitor elections expenses. Sometimes, helicopters, ambulances, bourses and commercial institutions are also used to transfer black money to be spent in elections, which will have to be monitored. He directed to ensure implementation of monitoring of poll expenses upto lowest level. Das asked officers to strengthen their respective vigilance set-ups to keep watch over poll expenses. AK Jain said that such representatives should be elected who can serve people and not their own interests. Indiscriminate use of money power has been made in previous elections. He expected officers to take monitoring of poll expense seriously as responsible citizens of India and discharge their duties with dedication. Rakesh Agrawal informed that efforts for monitoring poll expenses are being made since 1992 and have been strengthened further.
Jaideep Govind informed that monitoring of poll expenses in Madhya Pradesh is being done through a new method and plan. He described poll expenses monitoring as vital for free and fair polls. For the first time, nodal officers have been appointed for poll expenses monitoring in the state for ensuing elections. Concrete arrangements have been made to impart training to officers for poll expenses monitoring as per module. Director Training AK Bisaria proposed a vote of thanks at the conclusion of the first session.