The Hindu : Front Page : Withdraw bus fare cut: EC

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Monday, May 04, 2009
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Withdraw bus fare cut: EC

Anita Joshua

Poll panel not satisfied with explanation tendered by Chief Secretary

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Sunday asked the Tamil Nadu Government to withdraw the reduction in bus fares in the State. A decision to this effect was taken by the Election Commission after Chief Secretary K.S. Sripathi appeared before it earlier in the day. The full Commission was not satisfied with the explanation tendered by Mr. Sripathi. The Chief Secretary had been summoned by the Commission to appear before it at 3 p.m. He is understood to have reiterated the earlier explanation tendered by the State Government.

The State Government’s contention is that it had not issued any order to reduce fares and the managing directors of the State transport undertakings could have taken a decision on their own. This explanation did not convince the Commission which had taken a suo motu cognisance of newspaper reports regarding the reduction in bus fares in violation of the model code of conduct. The Commission had first sought the Chief Secretary’s comment on the fare reduction on Friday. Dissatisfied with the written explanation that was sent to the Commission, it then asked him to appear before it at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

What transpired at the meeting was not clear as, after the meeting at Nirvachan Sadan, the Chief Secretary refused to speak to waiting journalists. Besides the bus fare reduction issue, the Commission is understood to have quizzed the Chief Secretary about the alleged distribution of money to voters in Madurai where Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s son M. K. Azhagiri is contesting the Parliamentary elections.

Last Tuesday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had complained to the Commission about the gross misuse of official machinery and an unprecedented use of money and goods to lure voters in Madurai.

Meanwhile, the full Commission has also decided to visit Tamil Nadu on Tuesday to review the preparedness in the State which goes to the polls in the last phase of polling for the 15th Lok Sabha on May 13.

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