By IANS,
Chennai: The Election Commission (EC) will take stringent action to check “cash for votes” during Tamil Nadu assembly elections as the flow of money in the state during polls is a big challenge, said a top official here Monday.”The flow of money in Tamil Nadu during elections is a big challenge. Cash seizures are not enough,” Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S.Y. Quraishi told reporters here.
Ahead of the April 13 elections, Tamil Nadu Police and the Income Tax department have seized more than Rs.10 million (Rs.1 crore) cash from cars across the state.
He said the money flow was likely to increase as the election date came closer.
According to the CEC, a separate queue for senior citizens will be considered at polling stations so that elderly people can vote comfortably.
Turning down the request of political parties to extend the campaigning duration till 11 p.m., Quraishi cited the apex court’s order of not allowing loud speakers after 10 p.m.
On the apprehensions expressed about the safety of voting machines as there would be a month’s gap between polling and counting of votes in Tamil Nadu, he said the machines will be guarded by paramilitary forces.
The EC is also looking at the feasibility of having CCTV cameras inside the rooms where the voting machines would be stored ahead of the ballot counting.