Minor reshuffle of IPS officials

Sources said the Election Commission had reviewed the reports of the Election Observers who are already on the job. Based on the inputs, the EC is learnt to have had the views of the Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni. A comprehensive review meet was chaired by Lakhoni with cops, and necessary instructions were given to accord total cooperation with the Election Observers. Names of officials in the rank of Additional Commissioner, and Joint Commissioner were being passed around as possible to be changed, according to sources.

As on Sunday, the Poll Officials had seized as much as Rs 5.21 lakhs, while registering 9 cases and efforts are on to file 6 more, and no arrests have been effected so far.

As many as 148 complaints were received through all channels and action had been taken on 142 complaints while the rest 6 are pending, and a total of 210 instances of defacement is reported, and had been reviewed by the Poll Officials.

Election Commission should act tough on sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran supporters who had supplied ‘Pressure Cookers’ to voters in 2 locations in RK Nagar, said Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar. 

It is the EC which has control over the constituency and should ensure that the bypoll is conducted in a free and fair manner. The entire administration of the respective constituency comes under the ambit of the EC which can use its powers to ensure that the election was conducted in a free manner. 

AIADMK MP V Maitreyan who campaigned along with Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar in RK Nagar while a booth committee meeting of the AIADMK too was held. Maitreyan said that they would take up the issue with EC about Dinakaran supporters using the flags and other party symbols in the RK Nagar bypolls.