The Election Commission (EC), has canceled the byelection in Chennai’s RK Nagar’s Constituency, which was scheduled to be held on April 12, following allegations of cash for votes.
The Election poll panel’s decision, came a day after Income Tax raids, in the State Capital, revealed that money was being used to buy votes.
The EC, while canceling the bypoll in the RK Nagar seat, said, the Electoral process has been seriously corrupted by parties through the use of money power.
The preliminary results of Income Tax search and seizure actions:
1. Cash of Rs 5 crore was seized from the confidantes of former minister Dr C Vijaya Baskar and from his native place.
2. Incriminating documents in the form of overall money distribution chart to several leading political executives and functionaries totaling to Rs 89 crore were found from the premises of Dr C Vijaya Baskar.
3. From the room allotted to Vijayabaskar, in the MLA’s house, the distribution charts, voter and ward wise, were found and seized handed over to each of the politician, worth Rs 89 crore.
4. Further, a lot of incriminating material, including voter’s list, marking against each voter either Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) or All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and amount to be paid and paid in some cases, was also found and seized.
The Income tax raids were also conducted on the properties of the actor turned politician R. Sarathkumar and MGR medical university vice chancellor, S. Geethalakshmi.
Questioning the decision of the EC to cancel RK Nagar bypoll, former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, “We were told demonetization has put an end to black money. Was money distributed in RK Nagar white money?”
AIADMK Deputy General Secretary, TTV Dinakaran also slammed the Election Commission for canceling byelection in RK Nagar. “This is a wrong decision, even the Election Commission does not want me to win. They can delay, but cannot deny,” he said.
The election, to elect a member from the R.K Nagar constituency, to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, shall stand revoked forthwith.
The EC order stated, “Consequently, all actions and steps taken by the Returning Officer of the said R.K. Nagar Assembly Constituency, District Election Officer, Chennai District and all other electoral authorities concerned are hereby declared as null and void.”
The EC also added that the by-election to fill the vacancy, shall be held by the Commission in due course. It also said that, “When the vitiating effect created by the distribution of money and gift items to allure the electors, gets removed with the passage of time and the atmosphere in the constituency becomes conducive to the holding of free and fair election.”
The EC in its order, also mentioned about the innovative ways, which the political parties and their leaders, have devised to bypass the law, enforcing authorities, entrusted with the task of keeping an eye on the unauthorized and illegal expenses, incurred in the conduct of election campaigns of their party candidates.
Following the split, in the ruling AIADMK, and with stakes running high ahead of the bypoll, the EC had received complaints of widespread distribution of cash and gifts. The EC, after the complaints, transferred 22 police officials, including Chennai Police Commissioner, S. George an 18 other officers of the revenue department. Additionally, one assistant commissioner, two executive engineers, four assistant executive engineers and four assistant engineers were transferred.
A similar situation was witnessed in May last year, when the EC postponed elections in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur assembly constituencies. The elections were canceled, based on reports of large-scale distribution of gifts and money, which was the first time in the electoral history of India.
R.K Nagar Bypoll May Not Be A Cakewalk For DMK; TTV Pulls Tricks Out Of His Hat
By Supraja
