Mysuru: With the Nanjangud and Gundlupet constituencies becoming a major prestige issue for the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP, the two national parties were ready to do whatever it took to win and as expected, money has flown like stream here.
The easiest option for the parties to lure voters was to push some bit of crisp currencies into the latter’s hands and that is precisely what has happened in the two constituencies. Several voters have openly stated that they made hay as the sun shone because if the Congress gave them some bit, the BJP was ready to exceed and the vice-versa. Some informed that leaders from a particular party had approached many of the voters on Saturday night with money in hand to make sure that the votes are secured.
The sources say that the voters sold their votes for as less as Rs 500 to Rs 2000. What was shocking was that some groups of voters were seen having serious discussion outside polling booths, deliberating on what value was paid for their votes. While some beamed radiant smiles saying that they got a good bargain for their votes, some lamented for having struck a raw deal.
With this, yet again, the efforts of the Election Commissioner to hold free and fair election has met failure. In several cases, though some were caught bribing voters, no action could be taken due to lack of evidence. All in all the national parties have made mockery of the entire election procedure and the voters have fallen prey to it.
