Complaints pour in against Election Commission officials across state

“Despite raising this issue there is no action from the poll officials. There must be some action by the EC as this is a clear violation of the model code of conduct,” Jayaraman told DT Next. All I wanted to know from the CEO is why there is no action against the poll officials who allowed the actor to vote to violate the norms. Then the CEO said that the issue was reported to the EC last month till date there is no action against the actor or the officials concerned.

“I also insisted for repolling in Virugambakkam and there is no response from the EC which has failed to provide a level playing field between the actors and common voters,” he said. Celebrities Sivakarthikeyan and Srikanth were allowed to vote whereas common public was not allowed to vote when their names missing,Jayaraman pointed out.

“I have forwarded the complaints to EC for further action,” was the only common reply I got from CEO Sahoo when I pointed out the lapses by those on poll duty.

A few independents and political party functionaries are also upset with the EC for its lapses and the last-minute announcement related to repolling in 13 polling stations.

“The repolls are usually held within two to three days from the date of polling, but this delay is something unusual and the behaviour of the EC seems to be an issue,” said social activist Arani C Sreenivasan. Every other day there are controversies breaking out related to the EVMs and the Election Commission. Things were better during the days of former election commissioner TN Seshan, he said adding that delay in conducting the Vellore Lok Sabha polls had also disappointed the local party functionaries. By delaying the polls, the poll related violations are just postponed and not addressed, Srinivasan added.

“We have lost faith in the EC and they have been doing their best to help the ruling AIADMK and the BJP. AMMK had suffered the worst in the hands of EC and the public had lost their faith on EC due to its style of functioning,” said an AMMK district secretary who is also a candidate.