IAS Officers Association of Tripura today expressed its deep shock and dismay over the alleged "willful and personal vilification campaign" against the Tripura, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Ashutosh Jindal by different opposition parties in the state.
The opposition political parties in Tripura including Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Tripura Pragatishil Gramin Congress, a breakaway faction of Congress after the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in West Tripura Constituency on April 7 alleged that the CEO was functioning in biased manner in favour of the ruling CPI-M candidates following the airing of a video clip in a local cable channel.
The channel showed purportedly how two aged and visually challenged voters had been assisted by a nominated voter in pressing buttons on the EVM.
The political parties objected that the nominated voter was pointing several times at the symbol of CPI-M.
However, the CEO had ordered an investigation into the matter and stated that the presiding officer of the booth would be proceeded against in accordance with the provision of Representation of Peoples Act -1955.
The IAS Association of Tripura in a press statement said, "The Association was pained to note the recent media allegations levelled against the CEO in conduct of the Lok Sabha elections 2014. The wilful and personal vilification campaign against the CEO by some sections of political parties."
"The Association takes strong exception to the language used and action of some political parties and condemns in strongest terms the personal vilification campaign against the CEO," the statement added.
Congress in a statement today said, the TPCC has studied the statement by the IAS officers association on the rigging issue and has nothing against any individual.
"The office of the CEO has not performed its duty as per law and we have protested. The crime committed was a cognizable offence and by choosing to ignore it the CEO has abetted the crime. The IAS association has sadly failed to notice the crime and is targeting the protesters," it added.
