Leaders ‘ring up’ the voters,poll panel seeks evidence

One such pre recorded call from Sukhpal Singh Khaira,the Congress candidate from Bholath constituency,goes like this: Satkaryog Bujurgo ate dosto main Sukhpal Singh Kahira,aap ji noo dasna cahunda han ki 24 tarik nu Nadala vich Congress rally Noo Punjab pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Captain Amarinder Singh te Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda address karanege te tusi uthe pahunchana hai (Respected elders and friends I want to inform you about the Congress rally on January 24 in Nadala which would be addressed by PPCC President and Haryana CM and you have to reach there).

A similar message allegedly comes from People’s Party of Punjab president Manpreet Dingh Badal. “Dosto main Manpreet Badal bol reha han,aaj mainu Punjab vich badlav te assar nazar aa rahe han jis karke virodhian diyan lattan kamb rahian han,te tusi sacche te imaandar ummidwar nu jitana hai (Friends,I am Manpreet Badal and today I am seeing an atmosphere of change in Punjab and you have to choose the honest and true persons only).

A party leader requesting anonymity said that such calls are being received by thousands of people every day and their expenditure should be credited into the candidate’s account.

However,Special Chief Electoral Officer,Punjab,Usha R Sharma,said,“Unless we have evidence proving that such pre-recorded calls were actually made by the candidates,we cannot take any action. If it is proved that the calls are being made by the candidates,then the Returning Officers can take such calls into account to calculate the election expenditure,” she said. Incidentally even she had received one such call. “I received such call from some foreign number but could not locate the number,” she added.