Ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi has said that the money seized in raids by the state Election Commission is only the tip of the iceberg.
Talking to mediapersons after reviewing the poll arrangements in the state, Quraishi said, "The flow of money is our biggest challenge. Even the money confiscated in the recent seizures does not cover it all." He said the Election Commission would press its observers and video surveillance teams into service to check the distribution of money and gifts to the voters during the election.
Quraishi also warned of stern action against officials who were acting in a biased manner during the elections. "We have a long list of officers who were biased," he said, adding the commission would cross-check and verify and if needed, change the officers. He added that political parties had expressed satisfaction over the election management measures in the state.
"All the political parties expressed their satisfaction over the election management measures, particularly the new expenditure control measures," he said.
"Then, of course, they are concerned that security should be adequate and there should be more searches by the central police force and there should be web cameras in every polling station. We have already provided around 10,000 of those, but their suggestion is that we should provide them to many more," he added.
The polls to the 234-member Tamil Nadu legislative assembly will take place on April 13.
Three other states, Assam, West Bengal and Kerala, besides Pondicherry will hold them beginning next month.
