Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, together with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, addressing the media in Chennai on Friday.
| Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) could be applied strictly in opposition to the cash distribution and inducement throughout the upcoming Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar stated in Chennai on Friday. The Election Commission of India was “confident” that the elections within the State “would be different this time”,
Addressing a press convention together with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, following their assessment of the State’s ballot preparedness, Mr. Kumar, stated the menace of cash distribution for elections, was among the many factors of debate throughout the Commission’s assembly with all political events. The political events have “committed” earlier than the Commission in opposition to the menace, Mr. Kumar stated.
“The Election Commission is confident that this time the Tamil Nadu elections are going to be different,” he stated. With regard to ballot guarantees, as per regulation, the Election Commission’s jurisdiction over the complete electoral course of begins the day the Model Code of Conduct comes into drive, he stated. “And that [the MCC] shall be implemented strictly to ensure…. money distribution during elections, the inducement during elections [is acted against]. The entire electoral machinery has been geared up to ensure that this menace of Tamil Nadu elections shall not exist this time.”
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, which was carried out in Tamil Nadu was a “model for the country” and was a “great success”, Mr. Kumar maintained. The goal of the SIR was no eligible elector must be excluded and no ineligible elector must be included. The revision needs to be carried out earlier than the election by the Commission below Section 21 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950. “The basic objective of any revision is to ensure cleaner rolls,” he stated.
“About the correctness of SIR in Tamil Nadu, I congratulate the electoral machinery and all the electors of Tamil Nadu that out of 5.67 crore electors, only 216 appeals have been filed till date with the Collectors. That shows the professionalism with which the SIR was carried out in Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Kumar stated.
When identified the elector-population (EP) ratio was not launched by the Commission, Mr. Kumar stated: “The last population Census was done in 2011 and any other population figures are projective and not accurate. So, let us wait for the Census to complete to give you an exact EP ratio.”
Answering a query on political events urging the Commission to carry a single-phase polling in T.N., Mr. Kumar stated all of the considerations could be taken into consideration and the Commission would take a call on what number of phases the polling in Tamil Nadu must be held. “The law and order situation in Tamil Nadu is perfectly fine, as we reviewed,” he stated.
The ultimate electoral roll was printed on February 23, “but as per law, if any person who is eligible and an Indian citizen and wants to add his name even now, it is possible by filling up Form 6 + declaration and necessary documents,” stated Mr. Kumar. The software for deletion of names or shifting of names too was nonetheless potential, he stated. “These three Forms 6, 7 and 8 could be submitted till 10 days before the nomination,” he stated.
Published – February 28, 2026 12:46 am IST
