Goa: EC Warns Against Corrupt Practices In Postal Ballot
Panaji, Feb 22: The Election Commission has warned voters and candidates against indulging in bribery or other corrupt practices while voting through the postal ballot system.
In a public notice, Additional Chief Electoral Officer said, ”It has come to the notice of the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer that some political functionaries are trying to approach voters on election duty and trying to exert undue influence on them to vote in their favour.”
”All concerned are warned that strict action will be taken against the violators if, at any point in time, any person is found influencing and/or intimidating any voter. Similarly, if any voter demands any gratification for voting through a postal ballot, strict action under the law and departmental action will be initiated,” he said.
The notice has been issued in the wake of Congress party alleging that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of resorting to pressurising the postal voters.
In a letter to Election Commission, Goa Congress President Girish Chodankar had alleged that in spite of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) being in force, the candidates of ruling party were indulging in illegal acts of threatening and intimidating the voters who were supposed to cast their votes through postal ballots.
The Goa went to polls on Feb 14 and the results will be declared on March 10.
