Chennai: Charging the State Election Commission
with being responsible for large-scale malpractices in the
recently concluded civic polls in Tamil Nadu, DMK President M
Karunanidhi on Monday disputed Election Commissioner S Aiyar's
statement that it was held without any political interference.
In a statement,he recalled Aiyar's remark soon after AIADMK
came to power in May on whether the state is a haven of peace.
Karunanidhi alleged that Aiyar's appointment as Managing
Director of State Marketing Corporation, wholesale dealer of
liquor in the state, was only to help AIADMK in 2001-06, when
that party was in power.
He alleged that Aiyar had announced the election schedule
on September 21 last, calling for nominations from the next
day, "just because he is a supporter of the ruling party."
Aiyar had not objected to several welfare schemes announced
by the AIADMK government when the model code of conduct was
in force, he said adding that SEC did not implement the Madras
High Court's order to set up web cameras in all polling booths
in Chennai.
He also cited several instances of alleged malpractices and
charged it with electoral malpraces during counting of votes.
'Let Aiyar touch his heart and say he is honest. His
conscience will itself reply about his neutrality', Karunanidhi
said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, November 07, 2011, 20:47