The Hindu : Sattankulam bypoll: EC for Central staff as poll officers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Sattankulam bypoll: EC for Central staff as poll officers

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI FEB. 6. The Election Commission, in a letter to the Chief Electoral officer of Tamil Nadu today, has made it clear that no State Government employees should be posted as presiding officers in any of the polling stations for the February 26 by-election at Sattankulam in Tamil Nadu.

According to sources, the decision was a sequel to complaints from various political parties that if State Government employees were allowed to function as poll officials, the poll would be vitiated.

Also, there was a possibility of the result of the election being biased.

During the Saidapet by-election held last year, the Commission had ordered a re-poll in many polling booths and appointed Central Government employees as poll officials for the repoll.

At that time, the Commission had received allegations of booth capturing and bogus voting in connivance with the presiding officers not only in Saidapet but also in the other two constituencies of Vaniyambadi and Acharapakkam where by-elections were held.

But re-poll was ordered only in certain booths in Saidapet and the Commission's decision was criticised by political parties.

Hence, the decision to post only Central Government officials as presiding officers, the sources said.

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