Election Commission's special officer Batra has been holding consultations with representatives of various political parties, hearing and going through complaints of large-scale indulgence of cash-for-vote practice by Dinakaran’s supporters.

To be held on Thursday (21st December), the by-poll was to be held earlier on 12th April this year but was cancelled at the very last moment on the same complaint as enunciated above.  Video footages, photographs and first-hand account of indulgence of cash-for-vote to the tune of Rs.6000 per voter have surfaced in the run up to the by-poll to fill up the vacancy caused by the former chief-minister Jayalalithaa’s demise.

More than 80% of the ‘allotted amount’ of Rs.100 crores has been disbursed yesterday and during the past few days, it is reported.  It is in this backdrop that Batra convened a special meeting to hear complaints from political parties about the cash-for-vote practice. Tamil Nadu’s Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhani and other top ranking police and civil officials in Chennai took part in the meeting.

It was complained by political parties’ representatives that cash @ Rs.4000 or Rs.6000 per vote was being disbursed by the supporters of a candidate not owning party affiliation. Batra’s consultation assumes significance as less than 48 hours is to go for the conclusion of election campaign by political parties, with the threat of ‘cancellation’ of the by-poll looming large.