Cash for voters seem to be on the prowl with brisk movements as elections are fast approaching in various states.

As elections are fast approaching for civic bodies in Maharashtra, the ruling Congress seem to be caught on a wrong foot, embarrassing the party. Nearly Rs one Cr of cash was seized from two people from Nagpur, by the Maharashtra Police, in the Amravati district. The cash, recovered during night raids, was hidden in the bonnet of a car.

President Pratibha Patil’s son and Congress MLA Raosaheb Shekhawat seems to be involved in the big money deposit. Oppositions cry foul that the money was to be used for wooing the voters. But the ruling party denies. By now it is customary, across the nation that such incidents occur before polls, but oppositions poach on such deposits to thwart the either party advances, in many cases.

But in this recent haul the Mr Shekawat claims the funds were to be given to 87 poor candidates fielded by the party for campaigning only. He informed, `I had sought funds from the state Congress Committee for distributing them among 87 party candidates as most of them are women and poor. Accordingly, Rs. one Cr was sent to me, which was to be distributed at Rs. one lakh per candidate and the rest (of the money) was meant for the district Congress committee.’

As usual the opposition cries foul in this huge money deposit and blames the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. `This money has been distributed under orders of Prithviraj Chavan, his party ministers distributed the money, also distributed it in Zila Parishad elections, crores were distributed, BJP President Nitin Gadgari said.

Observers insist that money, black or white, running into tens of crores, is pumped to influence the voters, especially for the municipal elections in Mumbai. (With inputs from internet: AarKay)