With only two days to go for polling in Tamil Nadu, Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo is busy supervising arrangements for the D-Day. In an interview, he has listed the steps being taken to ensure free and fair elections. Excerpts:
How are the poll arrangements progressing?
Over 3.5 lakh government staff will be involved in the process, including reserve staff. About 160 companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed. About 35,000 police personnel will be involved directly, while a similar number of personnel will be available for maintaining law and order. Some ex-servicemen and retired police personnel have also been engaged, as per the requirement. About 90,000 EVMs and twice the number of VVPATs will be made available. We will have 15% extra EVMs and 20% extra VVPATs in times of need.
What action has been taken on complaints from the AIADMK against DMK leader M.K. Stalin for the latter’s statements on the Kodanad murder case and on the DMK’s complaint against PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss for allegedly encouraging booth capture?
Our District Electoral Officers (DEOs) have filed FIRs in all these cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Representation of the People Act (RPA). Over 4,500 FIRs have been registered across Tamil Nadu. Action would be taken based on the probe.
There has been a case of flying squad members demanding bribe…
All DEOs have been directed to impart sufficient training to all personnel. In this unfortunate case, we have initiated action against the entire team.
How do you propose to tackle alleged post-poll money distribution on the basis of tokens issued now?
We have an effective surveillance system in place. We will have to look into this issue you have raised. But no political party has submitted any such complaint so far.
What follow-up action will be taken on the basis of the seizure of cash in Vellore?
The Income Tax Department has informed the EC, the CEO’s office and the DEO’s office about the raids. The DEO has filed an FIR under some sections of the IPC and the RPA. All these facts have been intimated to the EC. The EC is the final authority. We will act as per the EC’s direction.
How do you plan to make poll booths accessible to all?
We appointed 10 IAS officers as ‘Access Observers’ and each of them visited three districts to see whether the polling booths were accessible to all sections. Their reports have been sent to the respective districts so that the issues raised, such as provision of ramps and supply of drinking water, among others, could be resolved.
The DMK had claimed that money was being transported in police vehicles…
We have been asking our DEOs [about this] and have discussed this with the police. We will take a strict view of any government official found being partial in any manner. Of course, our observers are there — general observers, expenditure observers and police observers. They operate quite freely and they can stop and check any vehicle. Two expenditure observers have been posted in each Parliamentary constituency, and they are trying to check [for malpractice] from time to time. It was widely reported that the vehicle of the Madurai SP was also searched.
Is there a possibility of mobile phones being misused while voting?
Mobile phones are banned inside polling booths.
Can you tell us about Sunday’s night-time searches at the MLAs’ hostel?
I am yet to get the details of that. The I-T Department alone can go and check any place. Our teams and the police are required to provide assistance. The I-T Department did not inform us in advance about the raid. We were intimated later, and the outcome of the raid will be made known later.
The DMK had insisted on the transfer of some IAS and IPS officers…
One of the names given by them was that of the DGP, and as per the EC’s direction, a new DGP (Elections) has been posted. As for the other names, we were asked for inputs and we have provided them. The EC will take a final call.
