Number of flying squads brought down across state: CEO Satyabrata Sahoo

Addressing reporters here, Sahoo said six flying squads will cover the Sulur Assembly constituency which is spread over two districts. 

Stating that complaints related to actors Sivakarthikeyan and Srikanth were being studied in detail, the CEO said departmental action will be taken against the poll officials for procedural lapses. “The issue has also been briefed to the Election Commission of India and the vote exercised by Sivakarthikeyan will be notified as a procedural lapse vote. An action will be taken if there is a tie,” he said.

Sahoo also said that the EC had revised the ex gratia for the kin of government staff who died on poll duty. “An amount of Rs 30 lakh will be given for death due to any violence or extremist activities like road mines and bomb blast. Rs 15 lakh will be released as ex gratia in other cases,” the CEO said, adding that those seriously injured due to violence during polls would be eligible to receive Rs 15 lakh.

Sahoo along with DGP (Elections) Ashutosh Shukla also held a review meeting on security arrangements done at strong rooms. Setting up of media room, public communication room and protection to EVMS and VVPAT machines were discussed in the meeting. To a query on the vacant Vellore Lok Sabha constituency for which the election has been rescinded, the CEO said there was no update on it. “The public election department will write to the ECI seeking exemptions for Tamil Nadu government to carry out the routine administrative works related to public welfare,” Sahoo said.

Traders, who heaved a sigh of relief after the Lok Sabha elections on April 18, are upset as checks by flying squads have commenced again in Coimbatore ahead of the Sulur bypoll on May 19. 

Though polls have been announced only for the Sulur Assembly segment, multiple teams of the Election Department have intensified their vehicle checks across the district. 

Besides Coimbatore, the Sulur Assembly segment also encompasses 12 wards from Samalapuram Town Panchayat that falls in Tirupur district. There are 16 polling booths in these wards. Hence, the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force in the whole of Tirupur district too causing inconvenience to the textile traders. It is mandatory to carry documents while carrying cash of over Rs 50,000. 

“What is the purpose of carrying out raids and making seizures in areas located far away from the Sulur constituency,” said B Venkatraman, president of Coimbatore Gold Jewels Manufacturers Association (CJMA). 

“Our business was dealt a severe blow during the Parliamentary polls when we witnessed just 20 per cent of the regular business. Orders and sales, which picked up over the last few days, has slumped again due to the renewed checks,” he added. 

The jewellers have decided to petition district collector K Rajamani on Thursday, urging him to relax the checks.