Election Commission on Lok Sabha voting: Determined to put a check on use of money and muscle power

Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in India, the Election Commission said it has taken a variety of measures to ensure free and fair elections in the nation, including using technology to put a check on the use of Money and Muscle power in elections.

The EC said enforcement agencies have been asked to take strict action against the usage of money power during elections. Action will be taken against 'liquor kingpins', the agency said in a post on X. Directions have been given to dry up the inflow and distribution of liquor, cash, freebies and drugs.

To this end, a host of government agencies will be functioning in co-ordination with each other, including State Police, Excise Department, DRI, ED, I-T, Forest Department, Postal Department, among others.



Officials of the electoral agency were live at Bihar, Patna, to review poll preparedness for the upcoming general elections. The dates for the elections have not been announced yet.

During the press conference, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that he is heading a delegation of poll panel which would review the preparations in Bihar and Jharkhand.

"During our meeting, several political parties requested that counting of postal ballots should begin early and conclude on time. Parties also requested that they should get to know how many EVMs would be used at various polling booths in all the districts. They were also of the view that timing of voting should be increased so that polling percentage improves," said Kumar.

Kumar has appealed to the voters to vote without any fear.

"We held meetings with different national and state level parties and they've a few issues and suggestions for us. They ask us to be assured about the deletion of voters from electoral rolls, issuing Voter IDs to newly added voters, proper deployment of paramilitary forces at voting booths to ensure a smooth voting process, impersonation shouldn't happen...central observers must be available and accessible to all, postal ballots must be counted first, all parties should be given information regarding EVM... Commission tries that electoral rolls must be pure and healthy..." he said.

"To ensure no voter is left behind, we go to the very last mile crossing rivers if required to set up our polling stations," EC said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party is currently seeking a third consecutive term at the Centre, having won the 2014 and 2019 General Elections comfortably.