Vaiko seeks action against by-poll observer

He has contested by-poll observer's remark that there was no bribing of voters Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko on Maonday demanded action against observer for the Sankarankoil by-election, Ramesh Kumar Sudhanshu, for his alleged remark that no incident of bribing of voters took place during the by-poll on Sunday. In a complaint sent to the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. Vaiko stated that he had sent a representation to the Election Commission on March 16 about “the distribution of Rs.1,000 per voter throughout the constituency by AIADMK Ministers and functionaries”. He had been assured that the EC would look into the matter and take action. “On the night of March 15, MDMK candidate T. Sadhan Thirumalaikumar and I tried to contact Mr. Ramesh Kumar Sudhanshu, but his mobile phone was switched off. The next morning, I faxed a letter to him and also handed over a copy in person regarding the distribution of money. Mr. Vaiko said that Mr. Sudhanshu and police Observer Vijayraj Singh Gautam visited the polling booths at Kalingapatti in the afternoon on March 18. It was shocking that Mr. Sudhanshu made a statement to the media after visiting polling booths at Kalingapatti that he had not received any complaint of bribing of voters. Mr. Vaiko voiced suspicion that election offences took place with the connivance of the observer.