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Photos: Hunting for freebies with the Election Commission’s flying squads

India's mammoth exercise in voting for the 17th Lok Sabha kicked off on April 11, but behind the scenes, fair play is being checked for by the election commission’s 'flying squads': special teams constituted across India to check and counter the massive flow of freebies -- often cash -- illegally distributed by rivals as inducements for their prospective voters.

Updated on: Apr 13, 2019 12:14 PM IST

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1/10

A member of an election commission “flying squad” searches a truck in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It’s a game of cat and mouse for Naresh and his flying squad, stopping vehicles to hunt for goodies being handed to voters in India’s mammoth election that began yesterday. The illegal doling out of everything from alcohol to kitchen appliances has long been a feature of the vast undertaking that is Indian elections. But it’s getting worse. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Apr 13, 2019 12:14 PM

A member of an election commission “flying squad” searches a truck in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It’s a game of cat and mouse for Naresh and his flying squad, stopping vehicles to hunt for goodies being handed to voters in India’s mammoth election that began yesterday. The illegal doling out of everything from alcohol to kitchen appliances has long been a feature of the vast undertaking that is Indian elections. But it’s getting worse. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

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Naresh (not his real name) is part of one of 60 “mobile flying squads” in just one district of Tamil Nadu, where political parties are notoriously generous at election time. “We never really know how our day will end,” Naresh, a policeman, said as AFP accompanied him and his team of officials around Coimbatore in their two SUVs. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Apr 13, 2019 12:14 PM

Naresh (not his real name) is part of one of 60 “mobile flying squads” in just one district of Tamil Nadu, where political parties are notoriously generous at election time. “We never really know how our day will end,” Naresh, a policeman, said as AFP accompanied him and his team of officials around Coimbatore in their two SUVs. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

3/10

“There are days when we get nothing. But on others, a timely tip-off by rivals or by plain perseverance and luck, we may find cash, a stash of alcohol or other freebies,” he added. Over several hours, and in constant touch with a command centre, they stop dozens of vehicles and comb through the interiors, even under moped seats, but in vain -- this time. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Apr 13, 2019 12:14 PM

“There are days when we get nothing. But on others, a timely tip-off by rivals or by plain perseverance and luck, we may find cash, a stash of alcohol or other freebies,” he added. Over several hours, and in constant touch with a command centre, they stop dozens of vehicles and comb through the interiors, even under moped seats, but in vain -- this time. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

4/10

The day before another squad impounded a vehicle packed with sarees. Others in the past have seized booze, watches, juicers, mixers, or just hard cash. And while Tamil Nadu is a hotspot for such practices, it’s a nationwide phenomenon. In late March authorities said that they had already seized 1.5 billion rupees, 4.4 million litres of liquor and even precious metals and illegal drugs. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Apr 13, 2019 12:14 PM

The day before another squad impounded a vehicle packed with sarees. Others in the past have seized booze, watches, juicers, mixers, or just hard cash. And while Tamil Nadu is a hotspot for such practices, it’s a nationwide phenomenon. In late March authorities said that they had already seized 1.5 billion rupees, 4.4 million litres of liquor and even precious metals and illegal drugs. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

5/10

The phenomenon may not be new but many observers say that it has only become more acute in recent years, giving a huge advantage to richer candidates. A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a New Delhi-based non-government entity pushing for electoral transparency, said that 32% of candidates in the first phase of voting on Thursday were multi-millionaires. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Apr 13, 2019 12:14 PM

The phenomenon may not be new but many observers say that it has only become more acute in recent years, giving a huge advantage to richer candidates. A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), a New Delhi-based non-government entity pushing for electoral transparency, said that 32% of candidates in the first phase of voting on Thursday were multi-millionaires. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

6/10

Election monitoring officials display some 20 million rupees seized by a flying squad in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu. “The unlimited flow of money and its use to induce voters is increasing and we can see it with the nationwide cash seizures by authorities,” Anil Verma, head of ADR’s National Election Watch unit, told AFP. (Election Control Centre - Perambalur / Handout / AFP)

Updated on Apr 13, 2019 12:14 PM

Election monitoring officials display some 20 million rupees seized by a flying squad in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu. “The unlimited flow of money and its use to induce voters is increasing and we can see it with the nationwide cash seizures by authorities,” Anil Verma, head of ADR’s National Election Watch unit, told AFP. (Election Control Centre - Perambalur / Handout / AFP)

7/10

Election officials work at an election commission flying squad monitoring centre in Coimbatore. Kumar, a Coimbatore resident who uses only one name, told AFP that he always rejected any inducements offered by local candidates. “The parties give us 500 rupees each asking us to vote for their party. I tell them that I don’t need money to vote and that I’d vote for whoever I want to vote.” (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Apr 13, 2019 12:14 PM

Election officials work at an election commission flying squad monitoring centre in Coimbatore. Kumar, a Coimbatore resident who uses only one name, told AFP that he always rejected any inducements offered by local candidates. “The parties give us 500 rupees each asking us to vote for their party. I tell them that I don’t need money to vote and that I’d vote for whoever I want to vote.” (Arun Sankar / AFP)

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An election commission flying squad member displays a complaint and tracking application. People like Kumar are likely just one side of the coin. Another ADR survey found 41% of those polled felt that the distribution of freebies was an important part of the election process -- even though almost 73% know it is illegal. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Apr 13, 2019 12:14 PM

An election commission flying squad member displays a complaint and tracking application. People like Kumar are likely just one side of the coin. Another ADR survey found 41% of those polled felt that the distribution of freebies was an important part of the election process -- even though almost 73% know it is illegal. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

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A member of a flying squad removes an AIADMK party flag from a car during a patrol. “Many politicians say that voters themselves demand freebies and they feel even more pressured if any rival offers them,” said Verma. “It is a temptation many can’t resist. One can still understand the economically weak doing it but in some Indian states including Tamil Nadu, even the middle classes often take the money and the freebies,” he added. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Apr 13, 2019 12:14 PM

A member of a flying squad removes an AIADMK party flag from a car during a patrol. “Many politicians say that voters themselves demand freebies and they feel even more pressured if any rival offers them,” said Verma. “It is a temptation many can’t resist. One can still understand the economically weak doing it but in some Indian states including Tamil Nadu, even the middle classes often take the money and the freebies,” he added. (Arun Sankar / AFP)

10/10

A flying squad searches a motorbike rider. Meanwhile, others say that while they might take what is offered, they won’t necessarily fulfil their side of the bargain. “Why refuse when they offer us money? We can still go and vote for the candidate we like,” said Senthil Kumar, a Coimbatore cab driver. “I even tell my family to take the money but vote for whoever they want.” (Arun Sankar / AFP)

Updated on Apr 13, 2019 12:14 PM

A flying squad searches a motorbike rider. Meanwhile, others say that while they might take what is offered, they won’t necessarily fulfil their side of the bargain. “Why refuse when they offer us money? We can still go and vote for the candidate we like,” said Senthil Kumar, a Coimbatore cab driver. “I even tell my family to take the money but vote for whoever they want.” (Arun Sankar / AFP)

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