Election Commission Reports Bribery in Lok Sabha Election

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has released a report that reveals the amount of bribery in Lok Sabha election happening during April-May 2019.

According to ECI’s progressive seizure report, a total seizure of nearly Rs. 540 crore has been made by various enforcement agencies across the country as on March 25, 2019. A break up of seizure of cash, liquor, drugs / narcotics, precious metals, and freebies is given below.

• Total Cash Seizure: Rs. 143.47 crore
• Total Liquor Seizure: Worth Rs. 89.64 crore
• Total Drugs / Narcotics Seizure: Worth Rs. 131.75 crore
• Total Precious Metals (Gold, etc.) Seizure: Worth Rs. 162.93 crore
• Total Freebies / Other Items Seizure: Worth Rs. 12.20 crore

The highest value of seizures have been reported from the states of Tamil Nadu ,Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, a political think-tank the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has released the findings of its voter survey just before the Lok Sabha election in India. The survey reveals that for 41.34% voters, distribution of cash, liquor, gifts, etc. as bribe was an important factor behind voting a particular candidate in an election.