P. Chidambaram, the former Finance Minister of India, on the 7th of April, alleged, the Income Tax (IT) Department is planning to conduct raids at his properties in Sivaganga and Chennai.
Expressing his opinion about the real intention behind the raids, P. Chidambaram said, “The IT Department knows that we have nothing to hide. They and other agencies have searched our residences before and found nothing. The intention is to cripple the election campaign.”
The Indian National Congress (INC) nominated Karti Chidambaram, the son of P. Chidambaram, to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections as the Member of Parliament (MP) candidate from the Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu.
P. Chidambaram accused the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of harassing politicians across India by ordering raids at their properties, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
However, the BJP denied the allegations and said, it has no involvement in the raids conducted across India.
Recently, the residence of C.M. Ramesh, a member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP,) was also raided in Andhra Pradesh.
Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, also alleged Prime Minister of misusing his powers and independent investigative agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED,) the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax Department for winning the Lok Sabha elections.
The properties of members of the opposition parties were raided just a few days before the Lok Sabha elections. The parties’ members said, PM Modi is misusing his power and trying to weaken the opposition parties, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Political leaders across India also lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI,) against the independent agencies. The parties alleged, these agencies are being biased and following the orders of PM Modi to harass and trouble the other parties right before the elections.
In the wake of these numerous complaints, on the 7th of April, the ECI issued an order, which states, “The Election Commission strongly advises that all enforcement actions during the election period, even when conducted ruthlessly with a view to curbing the blatant electoral malpractice (of using money power to influence voter behaviour), be absolutely neutral, impartial and non discriminatory.”
During the elections, political parties misuse their power and influence the voters by bribing them with money and liquor.
The ECI and other investigative agencies take action and conduct searches to ensure the elections are carried out smoothly.
The Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to begin from the 11th of April and will continue till the 19th of May 2019.
The major parties contesting the Lok Sabha elections are the Indian National Congress (INC) and the BJP.
The results of the Lok Sabha elections will be announced on the 23rd of May 2019.
Stay tuned for further updates about the Lok Sabha elections.
