Misuse of money, inflow of drugs big challenge in Pb: Election Commission

The Election Commission is seriously concerned over the possibility of huge distribution of cash and inflow of drugs in the run-up to the Punjab Assembly polls even as it promised an adequate security apparatus to maintain peace and harmony at the hustings.

The full Election Commission under the leadership of Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi winded up its two-day visit to Punjab on Thursday after collecting “valuable inputs from all the stakeholders”. 

“Our biggest challenge in Punjab is to ensure that the Model Code of Conduct is strictly adhered to, peace and harmony are maintained...no clashes take place, misuse of money and inflow of drugs are effectively checked,” Zaidi told reporters here. He said an “unprecedented” deployment of central forces will be ensured in the poll-bound state to instill confidence among the voters to exercise their franchise “fearlessly”. Zaidi, however, did not divulge how many companies of central forces will be deployed in the state. Already, 50 companies of central forces have been deployed in Punjab. 

“Unauthorised cash movement from different channels might take place in the state for which, a strict vigil will be kept by the enforcement agencies...on inputs, the authorities concerned will pounce upon those involved in distribution of cash,” he said.