The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : High voltage campaign spurs big turnout

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

High voltage campaign spurs big turnout

V. Jayanth

Political circles acknowledge `even handedness' of EC's actions

CHENNAI: There was an unusually high voter turnout this time in the byelections to the Kancheepuram and Gummidipoondi Assembly constituencies on Saturday. According to the final figures released by the Election Commission, 76 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise in Gummidipoondi, while the turnout in Kancheepuram was 69.8 per cent. The State normally averages between 55 and 60 per cent. The high polling percentage has been attributed to the ``high voltage campaign'' and in particular to the large-scale deletion of ``bogus voters'' in Gummidipoondi.

The Opposition parties have thanked the EC, and in particular the Special Observer K.J. Rao, for ensuring a ``free and fair election.'' But the ruling All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has been reticent about acknowledging the role or endorsing the interventions of the EC.

Political circles acknowledge the ``even handedness'' with which the EC has carried out its special operations and that too for a byelection. Though they emphasise that the EC went ``too far'' in implementing the model code of conduct, they also concede that but for that intervention and the deployment of Central paramilitary forces, there could have been major incidents of violence. In particular, both the political camps question the manner in which the EC and its observers prevented the presence of political functionaries in the constituencies, going even to the extent of ``detaining'' leaders who were ``monitoring'' the smooth conduct of the poll.

Guideline implementation

Again, the heartening feature appears to be the balance in implementing the guidelines. At no stage was the EC accused of being partial in taking action against errant partymen or election activists. And unusually for a byelection, the EC initiated several measures, perhaps based on the incidents during the byelections to two Corporation wards in Chennai. Chief among them were the deployment of paramilitary forces on such a large scale, complete videographing of the polling, posting at least two key polling personnel from the Central services after training them, deputing special observers and ensuring that the media was allowed to provide full coverage, without the threat of being ``misused'' in some cases.

Asked under what powers the EC went to the extent of ``detaining'' political functionaries found in the two constituencies on polling day, Commission sources said: ``Under Article 324 of the Constitution, special plenary powers have been vested with the EC to initiate any action necessary to ensure the conduct of a free and fair election so long as these steps do not run contrary to any other law.''

The sources agreed that use of these powers under Article 324 was a subject matter of litigation, but said the courts had upheld the action of the Commission.

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