March 15: Despite the Election Commission’s restrictions on distribution of liquor to woo the voters, liquor and elections go hand in hand everywhere. Political leaders throw all the rules and regulations to the wind and offer liquor liberally to entice the electorate.
Liquor consumes 50 per cent of the election budget. The candidates will be spending anywhere between Rs 2 to Rs 5 crore in each Assembly segment this time, according to a seasoned politician.
Interestingly, the large volume of sale of liquor does not bring any gains to the licensed dealers because political leaders obtain the loads in bulk directly from AP Beverages Corporation Limited (APBCL) distribution point in the name of some licence holder.
In some cases leaders collect the stock without the knowledge of the dealers in connivance with the loyal excise officials.
Incidentally, the dealers will never raise their voice since it means inviting the wrath of both the politicians and the excise officials.
All the activity starts just a week before the elections right under the nose of the authorities but they can do nothing as every thing appears legal. One solace for the liquor dealers is that they don’t have to pay income-tax for the sale since ABCL includes I-T on every bill.
Leaders usually entrust the job of distribution of bottles to their trusted lieutenants, and they in turn pass on only 50 per cent of the bottles to the voters.
The remaining will find their way back to liquor shops at half the rate.
The sale volume increased by Rs 8 crore in April 2004, the election month, compared to the sale in the previous months in PSR Nellore district. The sale in March 2004 was Rs 12.67 crore as against Rs 20.80 crore in April.
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