Date:26/02/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/26/stories/2003022604791200.htm

National

'EC considered putting off Sattankulam poll'

By Our Legal Correspondent

New Delhi Feb. 25. The Election Commission considered the option of postponing the byelection to the Sattankulam Assembly constituency, but in view of the fact that all preparations had been made and the logistics put in place it was decided to censure the Tamil Nadu Government by disapproving of the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's actions, according to sources.

The rationale behind the Model Code was to ensure that the party in power "does not have a disproportionate advantage over others in winning elections.

"Its implementation caters to a core democratic principle of all candidates appearing before the electorate on an equal footing and nobody being propped up because he belongs to the party that has the reins of governance in its hands," the Commission said in a communication sent to the State Chief Secretary.

The Commission was of the view that it was quite conceivable that in the enthusiasm to win elections, infractions both of the letter and the spirit of the Model Code might be resorted to by a candidate or a political functionary.

But "it expects a unidirectional approach towards observance of the Code by the higher leadership of all political parties because its adherence sustains a very core and valuable principle of democracy", the letter added.

`Constituency sealed'

Meanwhile, the State Chief Electoral Officer today informed the Commission that in accordance with its directive, all outside elements and their supporters who were not voters had been evicted and the Assembly constituency had been sealed off to prevent entry of outsiders.