Chennai: Based on intelligence from general observers that political parties are planning to offer cash to induce voters in RK Nagar, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni has urged Income-Tax department officials to conduct raids and searches outside the constituency, said informed sources with the public elections department.
“We have requested the IT department to look out for unusual and large cash transactions in any part of Chennai and also assist the poll process by conducting searches outside the RK Nagar constituency”, a senior official monitoring RK Nagar told DC.
“Voters in RK Nagar are also silent and remain indifferent to the free and fair poll campaign by EC and there are hardly any visitors to meet the eight observers appointed to monitor RK Nagar”, the official said.
“Only, there is a daily update on the number of FIRs filed by police and more vehicles are seized, but complaints and tip offs related to freebie distribution and cash for votes are not coming in”, the official added.
Details on supporters of all the prominent candidates including independents are shared with the observers and micro observers.
MLAs and state ministers are also under the radar since the bypoll that was to be held last April. The observers are given a free hand by the election commission and advised to look out for evidences related to cash for votes.
The observers are also instructed to recommend the cancellation of RK Nagar if model code was violated, said official sources with public elections department adding a total of five companies of para military force are scheduled to take care of the polling on December 21.
