Chennai: The Election Commission has not received any official complaint from voters or political parties on cash-for-votes issue despite several allegations being made about poll violations in R.K. Nagar constituency, a top official at the state public elections department said. The EC has so far not received any serious complaints to that effect. Until last week, the EC received less than 60 complaints from voters of R.K. Nagar, and about 45 complaints were related to incorrect information in the voters’ roll.
Though the Opposition has been alleging that “cash for votes” campaigning is being done both the public and opposition are not lodging specific complaints with evidences. Also, the number of complaints from public is not encouraging, the official said. Based on complaints and media reports, action has been taken. Chennai corporation has been warned not to go ahead with any road repair or drain work till the poll conduct is lifted.
The state DGP has also been asked to conduct an inquiry into the alleged campaign by a police officer, who is on medical leave, the official said adding that chief election officer Sandeep Saxena had instructed polling officials to install hidden cameras and the feed is also shared with the election commission of India to ensure better transparency and fair poll in the high profile R.K. Nagar constituency.
With the opposition DMK and national parties staying away, there is a dip in the number of complaints received with the office of chief electoral officer. “Usually the number of poll-related violations like cash for votes, seizure of unaccounted cash and distribution of free liquor are regular complaints booked during bypoll,” a Chennai corporation official said.
