Suspecting violation of the model code of conduct, the State Election Commission (SEC) has sought detailed reports from State police force, the school education department and the municipal administration department in two days.
In a release, the SEC said it had been brought to its notice that a number of officials in the police and school education department were transferred after the code of conduct came into force on September 21. Besides, it also sought a report from the Municipal Administration secretary on additional supply of drinking water to local bodies in the Southern suburbs of Chennai.
The SEC also sent a notice to the Southern Railway for possible violation of the code. The railway authorities obtained permission from the commission for the inauguration of Chennai-Mannargudi ‘Mannai Express' promising that no politicians would participate and there would not be any official function. However, the SEC has learnt that an MP had inaugurated the service by making a few announcements, the release said.
Holding discussions with the top police officers earlier in the day, the State Election Commissioner S. Ayyar asked the Director General of Police to take necessary steps to source security personnel from the Central police force or from neighbouring States to ensure free and fair elections to the local bodies.
The police force was also asked to make elaborate security for peaceful polling and act tough on violators even if they were in high offices by adhering to the orders of the Madras High Court in the cases pertaining to the conduct of elections to the local bodies in 2006.
People should be able to vote without any fear in the coming elections, he said.
As on Monday, 86,255 candidates had filed nominations in local bodies in rural areas and 5,498 in urban areas.
