Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Dec 25: The Central Election Commission took serious umbrage to the inertia shown by the Tumkur deputy commissioner Somashekhar, who is the district returning officer for the by-poll scheduled to be held in Madhugiri, in curbing electoral malpractices.

Deputy election commissioner R Balakrishnan, speaking to Somashekhar over phone after attending a meeting held in the office of the Chief Election Commissioner, expressed the Commission's displeasure in the officer's handling of the situation. Somashekhar was asked to send excerpts of the televised programmes that showed money and liquor freely being distributed in the constituency.

"The Commission has received complaint that you are not functioning affectively. The Commission is keenly observing developments and may take stern steps if the situation does not improve. You are reminded that you are working under the Election Commission," Balakrishnan warned. The Commission is unhappy about the inability of the returning officer to come up with a convincing reply on the queries made to him about the steps he has taken on the reports of liquor and money being distributed in the above constituency that appeared in television. He was asked to keep vigil on the movements of all the candidates and not confine the same to only some selected ones and to place on record the news appearing in the print and visual media on the irregularities being committed in his district. Balakrishnan also called up the returning officer of Madhugiri constituency and issued him stern warning to conduct election properly and fairly or face the music.