Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Depute official to check code violation: Cong. tells EC

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai FEB. 7. The Congress today urged the Election Commission to depute one of its Commissioners to the Sattankulam Assembly constituency, where a byelection is scheduled for February 26, to get a "first-hand knowledge" of the "gross and flagrant violation" of election code by the ruling AIADMK.

In a memorandum presented to the Chief Electoral Officer, Mrutyunjay Sarangi, a delegation of leaders charged the AIADMK with "misusing" government machinery to its political advantage, violating all norms of democracy.

A car belonging to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, driven by an AIADMK worker, was involved in an accident while it was on way to Chennai from Sattankulam. As per "administrative instructions" the vehicle should not have been moved out of Chennai.

"In spite of the violation, no action was taken against the Housing Minister, Anitha Radhakrishnan, who has shifted his entire Ministerial Secretariat to the constituency," the memorandum said.

Also, it was an "open secret" that the Education Minister, S.Semmalai, visited the Ecclesiastical head of the CSI church at Palayamkottai, and assured him that all surplus teachers transferred from the CSI would be retransferred. Though the Diocese's demand was longpending, the ruling party chose to accede it now to "entice" minority Christian voters.

When the State was "starving" under unprecedented drought conditions, 10 Cabinet Ministers were camping in the constituency. The voters felt "intimidated" by the "colossal presence of the Government" which was never seen in the past. Dress materials were ready for despatch to Sattankulam to bait the voters.

New roads were being laid, new bus routes were operated, water tanks installed and new power connections given to woo the voters. "Only a vigilant Election Commission could stop the unlawful activities."

The general secretary, Peter Alphonse, who led the Congress delegation, told mediapersons that the Election Commission directive that only Central government employees should man polling booths was an indication of the Commission's apprehension about conduct of free and fair polling. The Commission should also despatch Central paramilitary forces to provide security.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association president, N.L.Seedharan, condemned the directive on posting of Central government staff at polling booths. It was wrong and dangerous to give a political colour to State government staff, he said.

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