Poll Freebies News Today

Hyderabad, Oct 31 (PTI) Law enforcement agencies have seized cash, gold, liquor and freebies worth over Rs 412 crore as on Tuesday in poll-bound Telangana after the model code of conduct came into force in the state on October 9.

The Rajasthan Police has confiscated election-related "freebies" valued at Rs 200 crore since the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct on October 9. This operation, under the banner of STORM CLUB (Supervision, Tracking, Operation, Recordkeeping, Monitoring, Control and Command, Liaison and Unified Base), aims to prevent illegal influence on voters during the campaign for the November 25 polls.

Opposition parties protested against the Election Commission’s move to amend the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) to make it mandatory for the political parties to provide authentic information to voters on the financial viability of the promises they make to woo the voters.

The plea, filed ahead of assembly polls in five states, said there should be a total ban on such populist measures to gain undue political favour from voters.

A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli sought the response in four weeks.

Supreme Court issues notices to Centre, election panel on PIL against poll freebies