1. SYMPOSIUM ON SHARING BEST ELECTORAL PRACTICES INNOVATIVE MEASURES TO ENSURE A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION - Sharing of experiences in the conduct of bye-election to Pennagaram Assembly Constituency in Tamil Nadu

2. PENNAGARAM ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCY In Dharmapuri District of Tamil Nadu Remote, hilly and forest terrain High level of poverty and illiteracy Predominantly populated by Vanniars After 1994, all elections were contested by parties in one alliance or other Bye-election caused by the death of a DMK MLA

3. Cont’d…….. DMK, AIADMK, PMK, CPI and DMDK contested independently PMK was all along in an alliance Pennagaram Constituency comprises of Vanniars53 % Adidravidas18.5% PMK is dependent on Vanniar votes only But, all Vanniars do not vote for PMK

4. Cont’d….. Apparently, the last bye-election before the General Elections for the State Assembly due by next year DMK and PMK were fighting fiercely Outcome of the bye-election has a say in the equations of alliance formations PMK made a pre-emptive hue and cry about perceived, apprehended and potential favouritism the ruling party may gain from the official machinery

5. UNIQUENESS OF BYE-ELECTIONS Only one or a few constituencies go for election Highly contested – Question of Prestige Parties mobilise their Cadres from the entire State Govt. machinery cannot equally match Entire media attention is focussed on the few Greater attention from the Election Commission

6. INNOVATIVE MEASURES TAKEN Total sealing of the Constituency Check-posts on all entry-points 24 X 7 Video-coverage of all Check-posts Posting of non-local police in Check-posts Compulsory checking of all vehicles for Permits, Freebies, Cash, weapons, etc. Drive against Vehicles pending Registration Closure of Tourist places on the election day

7. Cont’d…….. Pre-emptive checks in places in neighboring districts Pickets and patrols on the river front Checking of outsiders – even via public transport Being firm from initial days helped a lot Selection of right-type of officers Liaison with ‘trouble-shooters’ in each party Centralized receipt of complaints at SP’s office

8. Cont’d…….. Immediate action on the complaints - wireless Real-time monitoring of action being taken Due action on both ‘cases’ and ‘counter-cases’ Almost all operations were by ‘teams’ consisting of both Revenue and Police Officials – lending a lot of credibility Special attention in the nights for malpractices Excellent team-work led by the Collector Contemporaneous maintenance of statistics

9. SYSTEMIC SHORTCOMINGS Following offences are non-cognizable Sec 133 of RP Act – Illegal hiring of vehicle for voters Sec 171-B – Bribing of voters Sec 171-C – Undue Influence at elections Prior permission of magistrate required Immediate search not possible Immediate arrest not possible

10. Thank You