New Delhi, April 29 (Inditop) Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Prakash Karat Wednesday asked Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Navin Chawla to intervene in the “gross misuse of official machinery” in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai Lok Sabha constituency where Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s son M.K. Azhagiri is contesting.
Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK was adopting “unlawful methods” to solicit votes in the constituency, where the CPI-M has fielded P. Mohan against Azaghiri, Karat alleged in a letter to the CEC.
“The past few weeks have witnessed gross misuse of the official machinery and an unprecedented use of money and goods to lure voters. There have been physical attacks against CPI-M workers including (a legislator).”
He alleged that the district administration had failed to stop such activities by the ruling party and “no effective and serious steps have been taken to stop the malpractices and ensure a free and fair poll”.
Asking Chawla to intervene immediately, Karat said the district election officer, the city police commissioner and the public relations officer should be immediately transferred out of their present responsibilities.
“Impartial officers must be assigned to poll duties,” Karat said.
Tamil Nadu goes to polls in the last phase of elections May 13.
rounak