Former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi emphasized his focus on reducing the impact of money in elections during his tenure at the Election Commission of India. He mentioned that the Commission identified various methods used to influence voters with money, seizing significant amounts in crackdowns on electoral malpractices. Cash distribution through tactics like disguising it in wedding and birthday celebrations was a common evasion strategy against the Commission’s monitoring.
Quraishi addressed the prevalence of money power in elections during the UPA-led government, highlighting it as a critical challenge he tackled upon assuming office. The Election Commission introduced specialized divisions to combat the issue, including one for voter education and another, the Expenditure Monitoring Division, to regulate financial aspects. The emphasis was on prevention through training politicians to avoid mistakes rather than punitive actions.
Under Quraishi’s leadership, the Election Commission saw success in enhancing monitoring mechanisms, resulting in substantial seizures of cash intended for election-related distribution. Despite these achievements, Quraishi acknowledged the evolving nature of tactics used to influence voters, indicating that more innovative methods may have emerged over time.
