EC cancels by-poll to RK Nagar Assembly in Chennai

The Election Commission (EC) has cancelled the by-poll to the Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency in Chennai. 

EC in its order issued late last night said, in the face of large scale violations of model code of conduct and charges of disbursal of huge amount of money to voters, the commission cancelled the by-poll which was to be held on Wednesday. 

EC further said, by-poll would be held in due course when the vitiating effect created by the distribution of money and gift items gets removed with the passage of time and the atmosphere in the constituency becomes conducive to the holding of free and fair election. 

The Income Tax (IT) authorities have issued summons to the Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabhaskar to appear before them today in connection with the raid on his premises on Friday.During the search, incriminating documents relating to pumping in of 89-crore rupees into the by-election and 5.5-crore rupees worth currencies were unearthed. 

The sleuths of



the IT Department have also summoned the actor turned politician Sarathkumar and the state-administered Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University Vice-Chancellor Dr Geethalakshmi to attend the inquiry today, whose residences were also searched.

The by-poll was necessitated by the vacancy caused by the demise of the late AIADMK leader J.Jayalalithaa, who represented the seat twice.The Election Commission in its 29-page order has expressed anguish over the sordid state of affairs in RK Nagar as reported by its various observers and surveillance teams.

It recalls the report of the Income Tax Department about its search operations on Friday at the premises of state health minister Vijayabhaskar and others, that led to the seizure of documents on the disbursal of 89 crore rupees to the voters. 

Many opposition parties wanted debarring the candidates found guilty but wanted the by-election to be held as scheduled.However, the Election Commission has gone by the rule book to uphold the sanctity of the election process.