HYDERABAD: The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) alleged that organising political camps for MLC elections with voters are an electoral offence.
FGG secretary M Padmanabha Reddy said that contesting candidates from Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam and Medak districts are organizing camps for the election of MLC local authority constituencies.
“The voters that are corporators, councilors, M.P.T.Cs and Z.P.T.Cs are shifted in buses from districts like Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam and Medak to Goa, Bengaluru. They are provided food, liquor and 5 star hotel facilities and other various entertainment,” alleged Padmanabha Reddy.
“It was reported that some candidates are spending as much as Rs 50,000 a day on each voter for accommodation, liquor and food apart from other expenses,” he added.
He said such camp politics undermines the election process as under section 171 (C), whoever, voluntarily interferes with the free exercise of any electoral right and trying to influence an election is an offence.
“Section 171 (E) explains that providing food, drinks, entertainment amounts to bribing the voters. ECI shall act and prosecute,” he added.
FGG requested the chief electoral officer, Telangana to take action against the candidates who are committing offences by organizing camps.
The voters that are corporators, councilors, M.P.T.Cs and Z.P.T.Cs are provided food, liquor and 5 star hotel facilities, alleged FGG secretary M Padmanabha Reddy
