EC told to probe voter card controversy

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 25. Even as the Speaker, Mr. P. T. R. Palanivelrajan, asked the Election Commission to probe the voter photo identity card controversy, the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. Mrutunjay Sarangi, today confirmed that the identity card of the Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, produced in the Assembly by the AIADMK MLA, Mr. P.R. Sundaram, matched in every respect the card already issued to the Chief Minister.

Mr. Palanivelrajan told the Assembly that Mr. Karunanidhi, whom he met yesterday, had confirmed that he still held the card issued to him. The probe would reveal whether the cards of Mr. Karunanidhi and the Union Minister, Mr. Murasoli Maran, placed before the Assembly by the Opposition MLA, were genuine or not.

When AIADMK members, Mr. P. R. Sundaram and Mr. R. Vishwanathan, wanted the Speaker to admit that the cards presented in the Assembly were ``bogus'', the Speaker declined to do so. Only a probe would reveal this, he said.

Later, Mr. Sarangi, at a press conference, said the Chennai Collector had been asked to find out how the identity card of Mr. Karunanidhi and Mr. Maran came into the hands of another person. He had called for the completion of the inquiry ``as soon as possible.'' Officials responsible for any violation would be ``punished,'' he added. The investigating officer would decide if Mr. Sundaram also should be interrogated.

The Chief Electoral Officer announced that the verification time had been extended by another seven days to February 7 giving the voters enough time to produce their proof of residence.

During the enquiry period of 14 days, the electoral registration officers or assistant electoral registration officers would be present in their respective offices to allow people whose names have been deleted from electoral rolls to produce their identification and proof of residence.

So far, 3. 12 crore cards had been issued out of a total voter list of about 4.79 crore people, the CEO added.

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Section  : Southern States
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