Chennai: Tamil Nadu is now a notorious state in the eyes of Election Commission of India joining the likes of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Politicians and voters had formed a nexus in RK Nagar defeating the purpose of free and fair polls by accepting cash for votes. RK Nagar will be a dark example of the state, a poll observer who visits RK Nagar twice in a day from state guesthouse at Chepauk told Deccan Chronicle wishing not to be quoted.
ECI had asked for nine periodic reports five from the general observers and four related to police and expenditure accounts, a highest in the history of a bypoll. Much to our dismay, RK Nagar is a happening place for poll violators and every day interim reports are also shared with EC.
Based on periodical surveillance and intelligence gained from the constituency reports seeking transfer of officials were sent to ECI and this had lead to the transfer of more than 90 per cent of the key officials related to RK Nagar bypoll.
The list includes city police commissioner, electoral returning officer, assistant returning officer and local inspectors. “Now we are told that there is no one to transfer except the district election officer and chief electoral officer of the state,” the top official said.
When contacted, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni on the poll violations in RK Nagar he said a record number of more than 10 persons have been arrested.
“ We are taking all steps like deployment of central paramilitary force, appointment of maximum central observers to micro monitor the poll bound constituency,” he said.
Action has been taken against every complaint whenever there is a evidence attached to it. There are 36 officers (IAS and IPS) from Tamil Nadu and Centre working to ensure free and fair polls for RK Nagar. And on Thursday orders were passed by the EC to rope in 30 micro observers from other states and central service.
The first batch of 15 micro observers in ranks of sub collector and tashildar from Andhra arrived Chennai and assumed charge as micro observers for RK Nagar and this is another novel initiative of the EC to uphold the model code of conduct, he said.
