Date:10/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/10/stories/2006051005751002.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Hats off!

The Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta and his team deserve full praise for the successful conduct of elections in Tamil Nadu.

His clear communication and decision-making at every step after the elections were announced paid off and the result was there for all to see.

K.S. Natarajan,
Bangalore

The Election Commission has done a wonderful job in all the four States and Pondicherry. To make elections more effective it should strive to make voting compulsory; provide the 49 (o) — the no vote option — in the EVMs itself. It will encourage those who wish to exercise it to do so secretly and without fear; and decline permission to parties to write on the walls of houses even if the inmates give their consent. This will prevent politicians from threatening the common people.

A.R. Sindhu,
Madurai, T.N.

Poll-related violence is common during elections in the northern States. But in the southern States, most of the times, the poll process ends peacefully. Tamil Nadu ranks high in the list of States that witness very little violence during polls. This is indicative of the good law and order situation. The Government and people of the State deserve to be congratulated.

V.P. Damodar,
Pune