CHENNAI: District Collectors, who are designated District Electoral Officers, have their tasks clearly cut out. The Election Commission has turned down their suggestion of delegating powers to the Assistant Electoral Officers and insisted that they must shoulder the responsibility of supervising the process of verifying bulk applications received for inclusion in the electoral rolls.

Aside from Villupuram and Salem districts, where a special team of the Election Commission (EC) undertook a visit to get an idea of the bulk applications problem, the tsunami-affected districts of Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Kancheepuram have also received a large number of applications for inclusion in the electoral rolls. During the regional meetings with the District Electoral Officers, Tamil Nadu's Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta, has briefed on the methodology to be adopted in the verification process.

According to the District Electoral Officers, it was made clear that there could be no delegation of powers as "lower level functionaries" could come under even more pressure from the political establishment. They are peeved at the fact that while the officials are being repeatedly warned of action against them, the "actual wrong-doers are going scot-free."

The near-unanimous view among the Collectors is that they are now in a "lose-lose situation, damned if we do damned if we do not." They have to ensure that every application submitted to them is checked and disposed off correctly — every genuine application must be accepted and every bogus form must be rejected. The question now is whether this tedious process will delay the schedule announced for the revision of electoral rolls.

The officials drafted for election work have been clearly told by the EC that "preparation of clean and error-free electoral rolls is imperative for ensuring the fairness of the elections." The other message from the Commission is that during electoral work they are considered to be "on deputation" to the EC and come entirely under its purview.

The EC has the power to change officers mid-way through the process if they are found wanting in discharging their duties. But the District Collectors are also aware of the fact that they come very much under the State administration and have to work with the political establishment in power. President Kalam's advice on following "dharma" is being cited to them — Those in public office must follow dharma or the path of righteousness.

This phase of electoral work could stretch till at least September, officials say. And, after a breather, they will have to get back to the rigours of the EC when the elections are called in 2006.

In between, they must work with the State Government and deliver what it wants to the people, before the elections.

That is the tightrope walking that lies ahead for the district administration over the next 11 months.

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