Even as the stage is set for the counting of votes in the Yercaud by-poll on Sunday, MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Saturday wrote to the Election Commission accusing the AIADMK and the DMK of distributing money to voters and demanded that the byelection be cancelled.
Mr. Vaiko said the by-election should be conducted afresh to establish people’s confidence in the EC. If the menace of corruption in elections was not eliminated, people would lose faith in the electoral system. The high turnout of voters in Yercaud on the polling date was a testimony to the corrupt practice. The EC should not take up counting of votes, he said.
Elaborate security arrangements
Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements are in place for counting. All the 290 electronic voting machines used in the December 4 bypoll are kept in a strong room.
Returning Officer T. Sabapathy said only agents of candidates would be allowed into the counting centre. “One agent per candidate would be allowed at each of the 14 counting tables. Totally, 11 candidates contested.”
City Police Commissioner K.C. Mahali said Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Tamil Nadu Special Police (TSP) personnel were part of a three-tier security arrangement.
