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The State Election Commission has “restricted to a large level the distribution” of cash by political parties as bribe for votes, according to the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr Praveen Kumar.
The authorities have, so far, seized over Rs 33.44 crore in cash as part of the inspections to check possibility of political parties paying cash to bribe voters. He acknowledged that it is tough to control this when both the “bribe giver and taker are willing.” But if it had not been for the stringent action by the Election Commission this problem might have been “rampant.”
“The open play of money has been changed to underground play,” Mr Kumar said.
The Election Commission will not hesitate to countermand the elections if there are instances of such irregularities, he cautioned.
Major alliances
As Tamil Nadu goes to polls to elect the 14{+t}{+h} Assembly tomorrow, two major alliances, one led by ruling party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the other by the main opposition, the All-India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam are in the fray for the 234-seat Assembly. The DMK alliance includes the Congress and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and a handful of smaller parties.
The AIADMK leads an alliance including the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and the Left parties, the CPI and the CPI (M), along with a clutch of small parties.
Public holiday
A public holiday has been declared under the Negotiable Instruments Act to enable voters exercise their franchise.
All industrial establishments and offices will be closed, the Labour Department has also been informed, he said.
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