By Ria Jain
The flow of money during the upcoming Pune Municipal Corporation elections will now be under strict monitoring. The Income Tax Department has set up a 24×7 election monitoring control room that will keep an eye on the election process. This initiative will ensure a level playing field by tracking and curbing illegal financial transactions. It will also monitor excess spending and prevent any kind of incentive distributions that might negatively affect the integrity of local elections.
Throughout the duration of Model Code of Conduct, this establishment will serve as the central surveillance hub. The Income Tax Department is deploying advanced monitoring systems to match the irregularities of large-scale municipal elections. They will work towards ensuring that the parties and candidates do not indulge in buying votes through unaccountable cash and kind gifts. This will lead to fair elections in the city.
However, the Income Tax Department has made it clear that active public cooperation is of utmost importance for the success of such initiatives. Citizens have been asked to act as the ears and eyes on the ground. They are advised to report any fraudulent acts on specified toll-free and Whatsapp numbers, via mail, or in person at the Aayakar Sadan office in Salisbury park.
The department, while majorly focusing on Pune, has other municipal corporations of Maharashtra under its umbrella. These include Pimpri Chinchwad, Thane, Solapur etc., ensuring a consistent financial surveillance across the state.
With implementation of such technology and public support, the Income Tax Department has taken a step towards transparency in local elections. This was a much-needed action against illegal financial transactions and a red signal for those who get away with compromising the elections.