Pre-poll bribes? No, they're welfare gifts

So, what's all the kerfuffle about? According to Election Commission, West Bengal has reportedly topped the list of 'voter inducements' given by parties before elections. ₹319 cr worth of cash, liquor and other freebies, including precious metals and recreational drugs, have been seized by 'election flying squads' (sic) and enforcement agencies in the City of Chai-Pani till Sunday. Tamil Nadu comes a distant second with a piddly ₹170 cr worth of goodies seized. Parties in other poll-going states - Assam (₹97 cr), Kerala (₹58 cr) - and Puducherry (₹7 cr) - don't seem to be trying hard enough.

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But instead of treating this as scandalous bribe, such pre-poll incentives should be seen as pre-pre-Diwali dhamaka gifts on par with government welfare schemes. Because, honestly, what makes you think that just because someone took a bundle or stash, bottle or flash from Party X, that the person will vote for Party X on V Day? It's a secret ballot, and the gratified voter could jolly well take the pre-poll payola and run to the party that he or she had planned to vote for anyway. Who'll know? That sari won't come with a barcode scanner. The liquor bottle won't tag your EVM choice. That pressure cooker won't explode if you betray its benefactor. It's really a kind of grassroots wealth redistribution. Why else do you think it's called 'Dance of Democracy'?