Date:22/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/22/stories/2007032203870800.htm

Andhra Pradesh

A.P. Council poll: CEOs to commence probe today

Special Correspondent

Tamil Nadu, Karnataka CEOs to conduct inquiry

HYDERABAD: The Chief Electoral Officers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will commence their inquiry on Thursday into complaints that Congress leaders and others resorted to "open voting" in the election to the Legislative Council from Local Authorities Constituencies on March 17.

This is the first time in the recent past in the State that the Election Commission has ordered a probe by CEOs of two other States into election offences allegedly committed by leaders of the ruling party. It has indefinitely postponed the counting of votes polled in LACs scheduled for March 23.

Mr. Naresh Gupta of Tamil Nadu and Mr. R. Ramaseshan of Karnataka will arrive here on Thursday and meet representatives of political parties at the Lake View Guest House at 4 p.m. before proceeding to the districts to get public feedback on the allegations.

The Commission identified eight districts where it found that the Congress leaders prima facie resorted to open voting or accompanied voters into booths. The Commission's findings were based on video clippings and newspaper reports furnished by the Telugu Desam Party. Election officials explained that "open voting" amounted to breach of secrecy and exercise of undue influence on other voters. Both offences are punishable under Section of 171 C of IPC.

The Commission feels that open voting would not have been possible without cooperation from polling officials. They include those connected with incidents involving Education Minister N. Rajyalakshmi, Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, and T. Venkat Rao, G. Muddukrishnama Naidu, V. Venkaiah, S.C.R. Naidu and Mutta Gopalakrishna, all MLAs.