Free and Fair elections will continue to be a far cry from reality unless the Election Commission is able to eradicate with an iron hand the distribution of cash to buy votes.
In the elections held on Valentine’s Day we witnessed how widespread this menace was. But it was ever so blatant in Goa’s capital City. When the votes are counted on March 10th we will know whether the voters of Panaji Constituency which includes Ribandar fell in love with the overflowing currency.
To target the 3800 odd votes in Ribandar, the city’s Robin Hood kept the flow of cash uninterrupted till the very last vote was cast. In earlier elections the distribution of cash was under cover of darkness on the eve of polling. But this time it was witnessed in broad daylight.
The authorities were fully aware of how the law was being breached but conveniently chose to look the other way. Young girls were engaged to distribute cash envelopes door to door. The family of a Police Inspector and the wife of a constable were also all part of this specially set up ATM. A senior office bearer of our Church committee who always is in the front row masquerading to be holier than the Pope was also working overtime in this sinful exercise. On the eve of polling, a whopping 50 lakhs was allegedly splashed to entice a few hundred votes at the tail end of our constituency in Sao Pedro.
We however need to applaud those families that had the courage to drive away from their doorstep those distributors of cash for votes. Our dance for democracy goes awry if all that the candidate can offer voters is cash in return for votes.
