Hyderabad, Oct 24 (UNI) G Niranjan, TPCC Senior Vice President & Chairman of the Election Commission Coordination Committee, has appealed to the Election Commission (EC) to instruct the relevant officials to determine whether seized cash is meant for election purposes before confiscating it, in order to alleviate the difficulties faced by the common man.
In a letter addressed to Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner of the Election Commission of India, a copy of which was released to the media on Tuesday, Niranjan highlighted that the Election Commission held a series of meetings with officials from various departments in Telangana on October 3rd, 4th, and 5th, 2023.
Reports indicate that the EC expressed its dissatisfaction with the influence of money and manpower during the Munugode by-elections and the failure of officials to curb it.
Authorities have initiated vehicle checks and cash seizures from the day the Schedule was announced on October 9, 2023, possibly to demonstrate their effective implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The gap between the announcement of the Schedule and Polling Day is approximately 51 days, and the general public has been burdened by unwarranted vehicle checks and the seizure of cash and gold, which have no direct impact on influencing voters.
Niranjan emphasized that while the EC’s intent is likely to curb the flow of money that influences voters, it should not create hardships for the common people, hindering their day-to-day personal and business activities. He mentioned that there are rules for carrying money, but the common societal practices should also be considered.
He attached a press clipping from the Deccan Chronicle dated October 20, which revealed that 90 percent of the money seized in 2018 was returned to genuine owners after the elections. This meant that legitimate individuals had to wait for more than 50 days to recover their money.
The report also highlighted specific incidents, such as a businessman from Kondapur who had his gold jewelry confiscated by individuals claiming to be police near a bank when he was attempting to deposit it in his locker. They coerced him into signing a receipt stating that the seizure occurred at a nearby checkpoint.
Checks are being conducted near business areas, wine shops, banks, registration offices, and money is being seized even in cases where documents can be produced within an hour or so, as reported by a trader from Ameerpet.
Niranjan concluded his letter by requesting the EC to instruct relevant officers to first determine whether seized cash is meant for election purposes before taking action, thus putting an end to the hardships faced by the common man.
