Post date: Apr 28, 2011 6:1:39 AM
As the day of polling for the by-elections in the Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies is nearing, money is being pumped into the segments concerned by almost all the political parties to lure voters. About ` 2 crore in cash has been seized by the police at various check-posts in the district so far.
The police have intensified the drive to check the illegal flow of money into the district.
Of the Rs 2 crore, nearly half was seized at just one check-post - PP Kunta in Badvel.
The police have also seized other material which included 1,000 sarees, 1,200 gelatine sticks, 1,000 detonators, four bombs and 119 vehicles used for illegal transport.
Among the main contestants i.e. ruling Congress, main opposition TDP and YSR Congress party of Jagan Mohan Reddy, it is the Congress and the TDP which are facing public criticism for distributing “corruption money” among voters. Till date there has been no instance of distribution of money by the YSR Congress party to woo voters.
It is learnt that Congress leaders have already distributed money among its incharges appointed constituency- wise. In Phase I, amount ranging between ` 10 and 25 lakh was handed over to each in-charge towards election expenditure.
In Phase II, distribution of money among voters will be taken up between May 5 and 7 i.e. a day before the polling slated for May 8.
As for TDP, its leaders have appointed an in-charge each for the seven Assembly segments of the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency and released Rs 25,000 to each of them towards election expenditure.
Further, the incharges, numbering about 10, at the division level were given Rs 2,000 each and another Rs 1,000 each to the local leaders present at the street level. The money to be offered to each of the voter will be decided during last three days of campaigning.