Deccan Chronicle

Booth-level vote share to reveal workers’ efforts

- PILLALAMAR­RI SRINIVAS I DC ADILABAD, DEC.9

The informatio­n on booth-level polling which comes out during the counting of votes is likely to have candidates and the second rung leaders of their parties quarrellin­g.

The booth-level figures will give a clear picture of the votes polled for each candidate. This will make ward leaders accountabl­e if a candidate has secured lower than expected votes.

Generally, candidates give money to wardlevel leaders to ‘manage’ the voters. The boothlevel informatio­n will make it clear to them if the ward leaders have delivered the voters to them commensura­te with their spending.

Some in-charges of polling booths disappear immediatel­y after polling, fearing that they may have to pay if the candidate does not get the votes for which the money has been paid. It is also seen that some polling booth incharges do not distribute the money provided by the contestant to the voters. They keep some of it for themselves, either for their own use or for their political expenditur­e.

But then, there are cases where voters do not vote for a candidate even after taking money from his representa­tives.

There are also instances where booth incharges sell out to a rival candidate and do not work hard at securing votes for the parent party.

There are already rumours doing the rounds in the political circles in Adilabad town that a senior leader did not distribute the money provided by the candidate to the voters on the city outskirts a day before polling.

There are strong allegation­s that booth level party incharges amassed money by taking advantage of the tough fight between the candidates of the TRS, People’s Front and the BJP in Adilabad Assembly constituen­cy.

The informatio­n will make it clear to candidates if the ward leaders have spent the money given to them properly to woo voters.

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