EC sets in motion poll process in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

The poll process for 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu amd the lone seat in neighbouring Puducherry that would face voting on April 24 was today set in motion with issue of notification by electoral authorities.

The last day for submitting nomination papers is April 5 and the scrutiny will be taken up on April 7.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is April 9. Counting of votes will be held on May 16.

Tamil Nadu is witnessing a five-cornered battle with AIADMK and Congress going alone in the polls while DMK and BJP are leading respective multi-party fronts.

CPI and CPI-M are jointly facing the polls in 18 LS seats after its alliance with AIADMK collapsed over differences in seat-sharing.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Praveen Kumar said that since the model code of conduct had come into effect nearly Rs 20 crore in cash and non-cash material have been seized.

Speaking to reporters here, he said that a case of paid news has also come to the notice of the EC, and its media committee will soon meet to discuss the matter he said without divulging details about the complaint.

If the charge was proved, the expenditure would be added to the candidate account while the action of the said media house would be referred to the respective regulatory body.

EC was also monitoring some TV channels he said without elaborating.

Responding to a question, he said instructions have been given to conduct checks of all vehicles and helicopters of leaders. For instance, the CISF would check choppers at a commercial airport while EC's flying squad will do the same at a non-commercial facility.

The first batch of 32 companies of central paramilitary force had arrived recently while the another contingent was expected after April 20, he said.

The EC also announced the launch of an Andriod mobile phone application to report electoral malpractices and it can be downloaded from http://elections.Tn.Gov.In/complaints.