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EC notice to parties on bribing of voters

K.T.Sangameswaran

Action in the wake of High Court order

CHENNAI: The Election Commission (EC) has issued show cause notices to political parties in Tamil Nadu seeking their comments on representations given by a social worker here regarding “bribing of voters” in the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

In the notice, the EC has asked parties why the prayer by the social worker in the representations to withdraw recognition to parties under the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order should not be granted by it.

The Commission's action came in the wake of a Madras High Court order on a petition by K.R. Ramaswamy alias ‘Traffic' Ramaswamy. In his affidavit, the petitioner, who had contested the Assembly elections from the Tiruvarur and T. Nagar constituencies, said bribing voters was an offence under the Representation of the People Act. The Commission had power to take action in the matter. He quoted press reports that nearly 1,700 cases were registered regarding distribution of money to voters. He sought a direction to the Chief Election Commissioner and the Chief Electoral Officer to take appropriate action against violators of the Code of Conduct and consider his representations dated April 17 and 21.

In its order, the High Court said general allegations had been made in the petition. Following this, the EC has now sent the notices to political parties under Para 16A of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order asking for comments. It has said that if no reply was received, it would decide the matter without further reference to the party.

Notice has been issued to the DMK, the AIADMK, the Congress, the PMK, the CPI and the CPI (M).

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