Election commissioner SY Quraishi termed Tamil Nadu a 'notorious state' for the prevalence of cash for vote scams, unhappy with the undemocratic deterioration of political standards in the state.

In an internal discussion note, the EC has blacklisted 25 IAS and IPS officers of Tamil Nadu from the ensuing Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

Regarding the role of money in the past elections, the EC has received many complaints from opposition political parties, media reports and NGOs about the distribution of cash during electioneering campaign.

In an interation with the DGP and chief secretary on July 6, in Chennai, the EC conveyed its displeasure point blank with more than a hundred IAS and IPS officers. In his speech, Quraishi bemoaned the "money power wielded by one section of ruling and opposition parties in Tamil Nadu."

Chief election commissioner Navin Chawla concurred, adding that collectors and SPs should not play into the hands of ruling party.