Sting report: EC feels powerless in Karnataka

Sting report: EC feels powerless in Karnataka

FPJ BureauUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 02:39 PM IST
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NEW DELHI : The Election Commission on Tuesday examined the report received from the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on some MLAs bragging to be prepared to take money for voting in the Rajya Sabha elections in a TV channel’s sting operation, amid its concern that it cannot do anything unless any actual money transaction has taken place.

It has admitted that it lacks legal authority to countermand polls on the charge of bribery. Only on Monday, its principal secretary K F Wilfred wrote to the Law Ministry to make suitable changes in the law to equip it with such powers., requesting an ‘early action’ in this regard.

The EC sources said the commission has special powers under Article 324 of the Constitution to cancel or postpone polls if they have been vitiated due to use of money to get votes, but any such action without concrete evidence is liable to be struck down by courts.

In 2012, the Election Commission had countermanded the Rajya Sabha polls for a seat from Jharkhand after the recovery of large amounts of cash from the vehicle of a candidate’s brother.

The EC sources said the Karnataka episode is, however, different as the transcripts of the CD received from the CEO are not clear on the bribe being offered or demanded and there is no seizure of bribe money for vote to cancel the elections slated on June 11.

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