With the emergence of fresh complaints pointing to the possibility of more bogus votes being cast in the April 23 Lok Sabha polls in the State, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Teeka Ram Meena said stern action would be initiated against offenders if the charges are proved.
Election officials are awaiting the final decision of the Election Commission on the reports on voter fraud already submitted to New Delhi, he said. Verification of fresh complaints is progressing at the level of the Returning Officer (District Collector), Mr. Meena said.
When numbers are huge
While re-poll is one option, this step is usually resorted to only in cases where the number of fake votes in a polling station is unusually high. “We have already ordered FIRs to be filed against the offenders where bogus voting was confirmed. If the malpractice occurs in large numbers in a polling station, Election Commission sometimes decides to conduct a repoll. But here the numbers have been small. Still, the option is not closed,” he said. Discussions in this direction are also progressing between his office and the EC, he added.
Seven cases so far
So far, the CEO has confirmed seven instances of bogus voting in the State, involving CPI(M) and IUML workers. In all seven cases, the District Collector/Returning Officer concerned were instructed to file police cases invoking various sections of the IPC. Action was also recommended against polling officials responsible for breach of duty under Section 134 of the Representation of the People Act.
Recently, Mr. Meena had stated that Kerala should view this as an opportunity to cleanse the democratic process. On Sunday, he said he had also instructed political parties that they should approach the Returning Officer concerned if they have a complaint in this regard.