R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, JAN 4
As the process of elections for the rural local bodies in 27 districts were completed after the counting held from Thursday, the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (TNSEC) has lifted the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) on Saturday, said State Election Commissioner R. Palaniswamy.
Speaking to media persons on Saturday, Tamil Nadu State Election Commissioner R. Palaniswamy said, “Local body elections in rural areas were conducted in a fair and transparent manner in 27 districts. All the elected representatives of rural local bodies will be sworn-in on Monday.” However, the Commission did not provide a final tally of the results and suspended the counting in 25 posts.
“We have taken action on complaints received from political parties. We are analysing the video footage. We will take action against officials who are responsible for procedural lapses. We have received many complaints against Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers,” he said.
The Commission has received 712 complaints in written format and 1,082 complaints on the phone during the period from December 1, 2019 to January 4, 2020. “We have taken action on all the complaints. All the issues reported in the complaints have been addressed immediately,” said Palaniswamy.
Reacting to a question on the allegation by DMK leader M.K. Stalin that the State Election Commission was acting in favour of the ruling AIADMK, Palaniswamy said the election was conducted in a fair manner. “We have taken action on all the complaints by all the political parties. We have been fair and transparent. This is our message; and a strong message,” said Palaniswamy.
No decision on conducting election for urban local bodies in two phases, the TNSEC will announce it later, he added.
Over 1 lakh polling personnel were at work in the 27 districts where elections have been conducted. A total of 91,975 posts in rural local bodies will be filled by the elections.
In the first phase, 77.1% polling was reported. In the second phase, 77.73% polling was registered. Polling has been postponed in areas such as K. Periapatti in Tiruchi district and Sennagaram in Tiruvannamalai district because of the death of the candidates, Palaniswamy said.
