Will the Election Commission of India take notice? 1. The Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal in Panjab promised that if his party will be voted into power, it will transfer ₹1000 per month to the accounts of every woman, ₹5000 to the account of every unemployed. 2. Further he promised 300 units of power free to every household. 3. Akali Dal went ahead’ it promised ₹2000 every month. 4. In some States other freebies like the remission of agricultural loans etc. 5. Many other political parties followed and even went further ahead with more enticing offers. It must be noted that promising a welfare programme is much different than promising monetary gains to individuals. A welfare programme benefits collectively all people. But the above programmes are individual-centric. It amounts to bribing the voter. One offers a bribe to a person if the latter gets his work done. Therefore, it is an open offer of bribe to the voter. It is a case of openly bribing the individual voter. What a shame that political parties are putting our women voters on a bid, the highest bidder getting their votes. Therefore, it not only amounts to a criminal offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Representation of People’s Act. The Election Commission will certainly take cognizance of this criminal act committed during the elections. ***