By IANS,
Panaji : The Election Commission of India (ECI) Tuesday expressed helplessness at the rampant use of black money in the run up to the elections, before the polling dates are announced.
Speaking to reporters here, after taking stock of electoral preparations in the state, which is scheduled for polls sometime next year, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said that while everyone was aware that huge sums of black money was spent to induce voters, there was nothing that the poll panel could do about it, until the announcement of poll dates.
“We know it happens. You (media) know it happens. Political parties know it happens. We cannot do anything about it other than keeping an eye and making dossiers. We can only act after our writ runs,” he added.
Quraishi said that during his meeting with all five political parties in the state, their representatives had complained about rampant splurging of black money by potential assembly election candidates in constituencies, in order to induce voters.
“We have taken note of their complaints,” he said, adding that polls in Goa were due in June next year and that the dates would be announced in the near future.