India's Election Commission announced Wednesday that it will deploy around 50 revenue officials to check for the flow of illegal money during the provincial elections in Bihar.
The 50 expenditure observers will keep an eye on flow of black money, distribution of liquor and other inducements during the election campaigns for Bihar assembly elections, which will be held in five phases beginning Oct. 12, according to Asia News International.
"The expenditure observers will be in constant touch with the EC and will report important developments on this front on on a regular basis. The observers will also keep a check on the expenditure registers which will have to be mandatorily maintained by candidates trying their luck at the hustings," a senior Election official told Press Trust of India.
The announcement comes two days after 1.65 crore rupees ( 16 million rupees), nearly 10,000 litres of liquor and 100 kg marijuana were seized from several districts of Bihar, reported Firstpost.
"We do not recognize black and white money. We do not recognise its colour. Money is money. And if you are carrying that much cash.... Our concern is that you are spending within your limit and code of conduct is adhered to....You cannot allure voters," Election Commissioner O P Rawat said, according to Daily Excelsior.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) is likely to face tough competition from regional players, particularly chief minister Nitish Kumar's JDU party, in the Bihar assembly elections.
"Prime Minister is furious after the loss in Delhi, so he wishes to win in Bihar by hook or by crook, but he will not succeed in his expansionist plan," Nitish Kumar told a TV channel on Tuesday, according to Indian Express.
