Chandigarh: Election Commission of India has geared up to check the use of money or muscle powers in the election for which a website was launched on which complaints/videos of such practices could be uploaded by people.
Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab VK Singh said that the commission has planned to empower the civil society to catch candidates and their supporters using money, drugs, liquor etc to bribe voters.
VK Singh said a dedicated website and applications would be put in place through which the common man could upload videos of candidates or their supporters distributing money, liquor and other material to lure voters.
On the basis of these videos, the Commission would alert its flying squads and observers, who would immediately rush to the spot and take appropriate action.
VK Singh said the Commission could countermand the election in any constituency where it gets hard evidence that money or muscle power was used to bribe or browbeat voters. Giving examples, he said if such tough measures could be taken in Bihar and Tamil Nadu, these could be taken in Punjab too.
He said the Commission could not do much in case of the violation of the model code of conduct because it had no legal backing. It could only warn the party or candidate concerned, he said. No penalty could be imposed for the violation.
He said he had sought record of all officials, who will be put on duty to conduct the elections. He said he would ask the Commission to not allow camps of political parties outside the institutions where polling booths would be set up.

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