In Andhra's cash-for-vote 'bazaar', chaos, bargain and protests; but this is not the first time

VIJAYAWADA: Voters in Andhra Pradesh will cast their ballots for all 175 Assembly seats and 25 Lok Sabha seats today. This coincides with the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, which will be held across nine states and one union territory on the same day.
The campaign period for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in the State was concluded at 6 pm on Saturday, marking the beginning of the silence period.However, contestants wasted no time in attempting to sway voters with cash and gifts in order to secure their votes. In addition to the extravagant promises made by candidates, last-minute tactics involve widespread cash distribution throughout the state. While previously limited to voters below the poverty line, the practice has expanded to include the middle and upper-middle classes, who now actively seek and accept money, driving up election costs.
The practice of cash-for-votes has been a persistent issue in the state, and with rising inflation, the price for votes has also increased. Despite the heightened vigilance by election commission observers, district authorities, flying squads and local police to prevent electoral malpractices, agents representing both the ruling YSRCP and the NDA alliance are reportedly distributing money to voters, urging them to support their candidates on Monday. The amounts being offered range from Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,000 with some voters also receiving expensive gifts such as sarees and electronic gadgets.
In most areas, cash is being directly distributed to voters at their homes, while in places with heightened police vigilance, candidates resort to distributing coupons redeemable for cash at designated shops, such as small grocery stores and petrol stations. These coupons can be exchanged at specified shops in the village or towns for cash. Small Kirana shops, Petrol Bunks, etc are used for this purpose.
In high-profile Assembly segments, including Pithapuram, Mangalagiri, Kuppam, Pulivendula, Vijayawada Central, Mylavaram, Gudivada, Undi, Bhimavaram, Gannavaram, Darsi, Chirala, Nellore, Kavali, Ongole, Kakinada, Eluru, Hindupur, Nagari, and Tirupati, agents of contestants are reportedly prepared to offer substantial sums of money. The amount being offered for votes is said to be particularly high in Vijayawada, Guntur, Kadapa, and other Lok Sabha constituencies where prominent figures from the YSRC and TDP-JSP-BJP alliance are contesting.
In Palnadu's Sattenapalli, voters from the 18th ward protested on the streets, claiming they were promised money for their votes but never received it.
Similar incidents occurred in Pithapuram, where voters near a contesting politician's office protested. "The party supporters allegedly promised Rs 5,000 for each vote, but failed to deliver on their promises to some women voters, prompting protests." The situation escalated, requiring police intervention to disperse the crowd.
In Ongole, where Rs 5,000 per vote was allegedly distributed, protests erupted when some people were left out. Residents of Kondevaram village in East Godavari district also staged demonstrations, alleging that they were excluded from receiving payments.
Sources revealed that cash is being distributed in the offices of certain municipal corporators in Vijayawada. An anonymous man stated that an MLA candidate from Vijayawada had sent a close associate to a corporator's office, where Rs 1,000 was distributed in exchange for votes.
For candidates without proper offices, arrangements have been made to gather their supporters and voters at specific locations, where sums ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 are being handed out to each voter. A shopkeeper in Amaravati mentioned that parties are reportedly offering Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 more than their competitors to attract voters, aware of their rivals' offerings.
These confrontations underscore the broader concerns about corruption within the electoral system. "These types of protests are a clear indication of the need for stringent enforcement of electoral laws and a crackdown on corruption within the voting process," said Lakshmaiah, a retired teacher.
In northern Andhra, candidates faced unexpected demands from urban voters living in apartments, group housing, and gated communities. Residential welfare committees in apartments have allegedly requested generators, solar power, and blacktop roads in exchange for their votes.