For the first time in the electoral history of India, the Election Commission, based on reports of large scale distribution of money and gifts in two assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, has decided to conduct elections afresh.
The Election Commission took into consideration reports of observers, special teams of central observers, team of observers of Aravakurichi and Thanjavur assembly constituencies and representations of contesting candidates. Based on the observations, it decided to revoke the elections and start the process afresh in these constituencies.
According to an EC notification, “Tamil Nadu has been seriously vitiated on account of unlawful activities of candidates, political parties and their workers in bribing the electors and unlawfully inducing them by offering money and other gifts of consumable items to woo them in their favour.”
It also states that after the election was postponed, the unlawful practices should have stopped but they continued in these constituencies. EC seized an amount of Rs 5,72,000 on May 18, 2016.
The Commission feels that holding the elections even on June 13, 2016 in view of the prevailing circumstances would not ensure that they are conducted in a free and fair manner.
The revised schedule for the two assembly constituencies will be announced by the Commission in due course.
Here is the Election Commission notice:
