R. Rajkumar was seen waiting with his wedding invitations at the Greater Chennai Corporation’s Zonal Office – IV on Tiruvottiyur High Road for more than two hours. His wait for Returning Officer of Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency Praveen P. Nair, is for a different reason.
“My wedding is fixed on January 18 but they seized my vehicle saying I didn’t have permission from officials to enter the constituency. They wanted me to stop near a shed and when I went there, they closed the gate and said I have to approach a senior officer. It has been two days but I couldn’t get my vehicle back,” says a worried Mr. Rajkumar.
Several owners and drivers of vehicles continue to throng the corridors of the Zonal Office – IV, since there is no proper system in place for them to get back the vehicles seized by officials of the Election Commission in view of the bypoll in the constituency scheduled on December 21. Neither there is a mechanism to stop such vehicles from entering the constituency nor a memo or document is issued to the driver or owner when the vehicle is seized.
“I came driving from Madurai and when I entered the constituency, they checked the vehicle and said I can go but only to be stopped at some distance. They said I did not possess the permission pass and that they were seizing my vehicle. They could have stopped the vehicle if we didn’t have the necessary pass when we entered,” says P. Pandi, a cab driver, who has been camping in Chennai for the past two days to get the cab back.
D. Murugesan, of Kulithalai in Karur district, has a similar case. “My owner’s brother came here to meet an advocate but the officials seized the vehicle. When they asked for the key, I refused. Without giving me any document, how can they take the vehicle? Will they take responsibility if something happens to my vehicle?” he asked.
Another driver was quarrelling with the staff near the RO’s room. “I drive a cab and it was parked outside my house. They seized the vehicle and woke me up at 3 p.m. I don’t get my wage if I don’t drive and will the officials pay me,” he asked.
Mr. Nair was not available for a comment.