Bribing of voters in Tamil Nadu

Election Commission could have countermanded the Thirumangalam by election in Tamil Nadu earlier, when the then Chief Election Commissioner himself admitted about the widespread bribing of voters in that by election.

If the Election Commission were to have countermanded the Thirumangalam by election, it would have sent the right signals and perhaps it would have created sort of fear in the minds of the politicians and the widespread bribing in the recent Tamil Nadu poll could have been drastically reduced if not totally eliminated.

With the bribing of voters in the recent Tamil Nadu elections now becoming the talk of the state, the Election Commission should at least now countermand the election in those constituencies in Tamil Nadu , where it has reasonable evidence about the bribing of voters. The Election Commission will have the overwhelming people’s support for this progressive step and fulfilling its duty.

So called VIPs jumping the voter’s queue

It is disgusting to see reports that during the recent Tamil Nadu polls, while the voters were waiting in the long queue to exercise their franchise, the so called VIPS straight away walked into the polling booth escorted by the police and others to cast their votes. The so called VIPs include ministers, cinema stars and politicians and senior bureaucrats , who seem to think that it would be below their dignity to stand in the queue. This is an obnoxious practice totally not in tune with the spirit of democracy. The helpless common men standing in the long queue often murmur in protest but do nothing more than this.

I remember Rajaji coming to the polling booth to exercise his franchise when those in the queue themselves requested him to go into the polling booth straight away. Rajaji refused and stood in the queue for nearly twenty minutes till his turn came. The photograph of Rajaji patiently waiting in the queue also appeared in the newspapers.

Election commission should not allow the so called VIPs to jump the queue. It may be permitted only in the case of sick and physically disabled perople.

Taking photographs of so called VIPs in polling booths

It is strange that the photographers are given free entry into the polling booth to take the photographs of the so called VIPs casting their votes. This should not be permitted, as it affects the secrecy aspects of polling.