The mobile application that the Elections Department in Tamil Nadu launched last month seems to be serving its utility well with officials receiving a number of interesting complaints on possible violation of the model code of conduct.
Sample this: Earlier this week, a user who seemed to be a college student, sent a detailed note through the ‘TN Citizen Poll Watch- 2014’ app that the owner of his college was asking students to canvass for a candidate. In return, the college administration offered to waive the semester’s fee for the students involved.
While the officials who rushed to the college couldn’t find any substance to back the complaint, they nevertheless were upbeat about people reporting such incidents.
According to officials, the app, both the mobile and web version together, has clocked over 5260 views. As on Wednesday, 147 complaints had been received through the application.
“While most are related to queries on electoral rolls, a number of these has also been about posters and banners. We also received complaints about distribution of money and liquor distribution with specific information on the location. The seized materials are being valued,” an election official said.
Once the complaint is received, a flying squad is pressed into action almost immediately. The central control room tracks every step of the process.
However, officials said that usage of the app had hit a plateau after an initial spike. The traffic to the complaints page has been very low compared to the resources put together to handle high traffic. “We have huge bandwidth created for the app but the flow of complaints has been very less comparatively,” officials said.
Also, in a bizarre trend, many from areas outside the State, including places like the US, Malaysia and Riyadh, are visiting the site.
Officials said the Returning Officers of all constituencies had been asked to include the website address on propaganda materials. “The anonymity of all complainants would be protected. We want more people to use the application,” a senior official said.
The app could be downloaded at http:// elections.tn.gov.in/ complaints/
