A first: EC cancels polls over bribed voters

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday decided to “rescind” the notification and conduct polls afresh to two Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies “in due course of time” following evidence of the use of money to influence voters. The constituencies are Aravkurichi and Thanjavur. The EC action is the first of its kind in India’s electoral history. Polls have been cancelled before due to violence, use of muscle power, and even horse-trading in connection with a Rajya Sabha election, but not for bribing the voting public.

The EC had on two earlier occasions postponed polls to the two Assembly seats following reports of large-scale distribution of money and gifts to voters by candidates and political parties there. Initially the polls were postponed from May 16 to May 23. On May 21, the EC once again postponed them to June 13. The Tamil Nadu Assembly polls were held on May 16 and the AIADMK returned to power for a second consecutive term.

The EC said it took the decision after considering the reports of observers, special teams of central observers, the report of the special team of observers of Aravkurichi and Thanjavur constituencies, and representations from contesting candidates.

“...The EC is satisfied that the election process in the two constituencies, because of inducing electors by candidates and political parties by offering money and other gifts to woo them in their favour, is seriously vitiated and cannot be allowed to proceed and ought to be rescinded so that fresh elections may be conducted de novo in these two constituencies when the atmosphere becomes conducive to the holding of free and fair elections after a reasonable lapse of time,” the EC order said.