Discrepancies in electoral process will not be tolerated: Chief Electoral Officer

Thiruvananthapuram: Discrepancies in providing facilities to vote for the senior citizens and the differently abled in their own houses would not be tolerated at any cost, said Sanjay Kaul, State Chief Electoral Officer. Five officials have been suspended following the complaint from Kalliassery, in Kannur that the secret nature of voting was disrupted due to the intervention of officials at booth number 164 when a 92 year old woman’s vote was being polled. The incident took place on April 18. 

When the report in connection with this incident received, instructions issued to Kannur district collector to take necessary steps, said Kaul. As a result, five officials have been suspended at 1.30 am on Friday. The officials suspended are special polling officer VV Pournami, polling assistant TK Prajin, micro observer A Sheela, CPO P Lajeesh and videographer PP Riju Amaljith.

It is understood that, a person named Kappod Kavu Ganeshan of Anchampeedika had intervened in the voting procedure without authority. This is stringent violation of section 128(1) of  Representation of People’s Act  1951.  Steps will be initiated against this person and the officials based on IPC and Representation of People’s Act, Kaul said.  

Kannapuram police has registered a case in connection with this incident based on the complaint lodged by assistant returning officer. 

Officials should act with vigilance to uphold the dignity and essence of the electoral process while completing the ‘vote at home’ procedure facilitated by the election commission for the senior citizen and differently abled, said Chief Electoral Officer .