Let Kodiyeri bring proof on Rahul spending Rs 25 crore: Teeka Ram Meena
Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena on Tuesday said the bogus votes in Kasargod and Kannur were detected after detailed examination of the facts.
He was responding to CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's allegations.
Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena on Tuesday asked CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan to produce evidence of Rahul Gandhi spending beyond the limit allowed by EC, in Wayanad constituency.
Mr Meena was responding to Kodiyeri's allegation that the CEO was not impartial as he had not served even a single notice to Rahul Gandhi who had allegedly spent Rs 25 crore in Wayanad. "We have not received any complaint of overspending by the candidate. If they have any evidence or details, let them produce before me. I will issue a notice immediately," he added.
Mr Meena said the bogus votes in Kasargod and Kannur were detected after detailed examination of the facts. He was responding to Kodiyeri Balakrishnan's allegation that the officer acted partially and selectively against the LDF. "We took the decision after getting detailed report from the district collectors" he said.
"I have not acted in biased manner in any way. The bogus votes were not detected by me personally. Action was taken only after examining the facts submitted by the collectors in detail," he said. Reacting to Kodiyeri's allegations that the CEO had crossed his brief in acting against the panchayat member, Mr Meena said;’’I am only authorised to recommend action against the panchayat member who was found to have cast bogus vote. Action has to be taken against her. Now the decision has to be taken against the serving panchayat member by the State Election Commission."
Mr. Meena reiterated that there would be no compromise on the steps being taken against bogus voting. The complaints of bogus votes are grave and would be dealt with seriously. District collectors of Kasargod and Kannur have been directed to submit factual report on the allegations of LDF that IUML workers had cast bogus votes.
