Observer rushes to Delhi; Parties wait with bated breath

Sources said Batra is scheduled to meet the top brass of the Election Commission, and brief them on his interim-report on the bypoll. 

“The EC would hear out Batra and study his report like last time before it takes a decision. Last time, the bypoll was rescinded citing dossiers seized during I-T raids at Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar’s residence. However, there were no such reports this time. A total of only 120 cases have been reported, of which only 22 pertain to the distribution of cash. We cannot assume that the EC would rely only on the seizures as it did in Aravakurichi and during the previous term in RK Nagar,” an EC official said. 

Batra, an Indian Revenue Service official, was working in tandem with Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni and district election officials. After having backto-back meeting with the polling officials and other observers appointed by the Election Commission, Batra gave a patient hearing to the representatives of recognised national and regional parties.

He is learnt to have compiled all the complaints that he had come across besides adding his inputs. The money factor was first cited when the elections to Thanjavur and Aravakurichi were cancelled by the EC during the Assembly Elections in May 2016, and were subsequently conducted in November 2016.

The EC, had in a similar fashion, rescinded the bypoll to RK Nagar constituency in April this year, after the seat fell vacant following the demise of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni said, “These are unnecessary rumours on cancellation of the bypoll.”