In an effort to curb the use of black money in the forthcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, the Election Commission plans to encourage political parties and candidates to take a pledge for ethical voting — that they will neither offer nor accept any inducements.

This is the first time that the Commission is taking such an initiative.

Senior Commission officials told Business Line that such public functions are planned along with voters.

Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry will see a one-day poll on May 16 to elect their State Assemblies.

The election process in the two States and Puducherry gets underway on April 22 with the issue of notification. The last date for filing nominations is April 29, with May 2 being the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

Worried about the use of illegal money in these elections, the Commission will deploy 60 IPS officers from the Academy in Hyderabad who will work with flying squads. Besides, there will be 150 Income Tax Observers in 150 constituencies who will do the round of Tamil Nadu to try and curtail any misuse of illegal money to influence voters.

The Commission is worried that in both Tamil Nadu and Kerala illegal funds including hawala monies might be routed to influence voting patterns.

Cause for concern

The Commission’s worries are probably not unfounded. Till April 16, the authorities had seized over ₹24 crore and over ₹10 crore of illegal funds in Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively. The two States accounted for over half of the ₹60 crore seized by the authorities till April 16 in the four States and Puducherry where the polling process is underway.

Assam and West Bengal are the other two States where elections are being conducted.

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