Several leaders on Sunday demanded stern action against the revenue and police officers, responsible for the security breach at the Lok Sabha polls counting centre at Madurai Medical College.
Senior functionaries of CPI (M), DMK, AMMK and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) alleged that the AIADMK could have indulged in malpractice in connivance with the officials.
On the day of depositing the EVMs at the strong room, when the officials and police claimed that all the rooms were sealed, how did the Tahsildar access a room and took papers pertaining to polling percentage recorded in Madurai West Assembly Constituency, they questioned.
CCTV footage showed three men accompanying the Tahsildar. The opposition questioned whether the three were officials or representatives of any political party. Stoic silence maintained by officials over their identities has only heightened their doubts.
The Tahsildar, according to the Returning Officer, had visited the counting centre on instructions of her superior. If so, the leaders asked why did she not register her entry at the counting centre. “If according to the Returning Officer’s claims that the opposition parties need not have any apprehension about the actions of the officers as the strong room had been sealed, why were they not transparent and fair in revealing it to us. Only after the CPI (M) Lok Sabha candidate Su. Venkatesan raised the issue that it came to light,” they said.
Though the police had detained the Tahsildar for entering the counting centre without proper documents or identity card, she was allowed to go after a staff from the office of the Assistant Returning Officer had come and explained to the police. The question is: Why did the police not register a case or inform the higher-ups. Is it not a case of trespass,” AMMK candidate David Annadurai has asked.
MNM functionaries demanded the resignation of Cooperation Minister and Madurai West MLA Sellur K Raju, who is among the coordinators for the AIADMK Lok Sabha candidate V.V. Raj Sathyan. The MNM charged that the officials had been following the oral instructions of the minister and demanded a thorough probe by the Election Commission. “Suspending an officer in the rank of Tahsildar will not mean that action has been taken. The real people behind the malpractice should also be exposed,” they said.
The opposition has demanded the Election Commission to transfer the Returning Officer, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Tallakulam), and conduct an inquiry by a high-ranking Election Commission officer.
