The ruling Congress party in the union territory today urged the Election Commission (EC) to take up a "vulnerability mapping" in the Nellithope constituency, where a by-poll is slated to be held on November 19, to ensure a free-and-fair election in the wake of alleged intimidation of voters by the AIADMK cadre.
Puducherry Congress chief A Namassivayam, along with party legislators K Lakshminarayanan and T Jayamoorthy and DMK MLA R Siva, presented a joint petition to the Chief Electoral Officer here and sought the EC's intervention to take up such a mapping "so that a free-and-fair poll could be ensured in the constituency".
Namassivayam, in his petition (a copy of which was later distributed among mediapersons), alleged that about 5,000 AIADMK supporters from the neighbouring state were camping here, "intimidating" the voters and "provoking enmity" between various sections of people.
He alleged that they were violating the Model Code of Conduct and suggested that campaign vehicles not registered with the election authorities be kept out of the constituency.
The petition urged the EC to keep a close watch on these people in the larger interest of a free-and-fair election.
Namassivayam also alleged that "anti-social" elements were "flexing muscle power and instilling fear" among the voters, telling them to either vote for the AIADMK candidate or abstain from exercising their franchise.
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