CHENNAI: Boss frowns as poll observers freak out

By G Saravanan

Published in The New Indian Express, Chennai, on April 9, 2011:

Link:http://expressbuzz.com/polls2011/tn/boss-frowns-as-poll-observers-freak-out/263907.html

                                         PIC- MARTIN LOUIS

CHENNAI: The fact that the Assembly election is barely a week away can no longer be held as a poor excuse to bind poll officials to their work. Confused? Ask the election observers deputed here from other states who took time off routine visits to their constituencies and unwound at sea on Friday.

Eight election observers - four general and four expenditure - paid a 'refreshing' visit to the Chennai Port and enjoyed a boat ride.

The visit, initially, sparked off a rumour that the poll officials had seized a container filled with cash meant for bribing city voters. However, it soon became clear that they were there only for leisure.

According to port sources, the observers drove into the premises in their official vehicles at 10.45 am and left at 12.30 pm. The poll officials, who should have been in their constituencies given the increasing number of complaints of notes-for-votes, enjoyed a boat ride on two high-speed patrolling boats of the CISF and the Harbour police. They also visited a ship and enquired about operations at the historical port in South India with the chairman of the Port Trust, Atulya Misra.

For the last few days, unconfirmed reports were doing the rounds that a couple of observers had gone on a pilgrimage to Tirupati and some others to a beach resort on the East Coast Road.

Chief Electoral Officer Pra veen Kumar said such visits were against the EC's rules. Sources said the EC had taken note of the 'timepass' activities and was planning action against the observers.