EC appoints panel to probe malpractices in TN constituencies

CHENNAI: The Election Commission on Wednesday appointed a seven-member committee to investigate malpractices in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies in Tamil Nadu where the polling has been postponed to May 23.
“The commission has constituted a team of officers to look into the causes that led to large scale distribution of gifts in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies where the polling has been postponed to May 23,” said EC secretary Malay Mallick in a press release.
The officials who are part of the committee are Aravakurichi general observer Saswat Misha, Thanjavur general observer Pramod Kumar, Aravarkuruchi expenditure observer Shil Asheesh, Thanjavur expenditure observer Mallikarjun Utture, income tax deputy director, investigation (name not mentioned in press release) and police observers Akun Sabharwal and Sunil R Paraskar.
The concerned district election officers have been instructed to assist the committee. “The committee may investigate the issue and file a report to the commission before 4pm on May 19,” said Mallick.
The commission has issued a direction that additional officials will be provided at the scale of one set for every 10 polling stations in these two constituencies. The scaled up teams would be ready by 4pm on May 18, said the press release.