The delay in constituting the Constitutional Council,has resulted in the Eastern Provincial Council Election (EPCE),result not reflecting the peoples true will,UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said yesterday.

He,told a news conference in Colombo,that if the Constituional Council had been constituted by President Mahinda Rajapkse prior to the EPCE then institutions such as the Elections Department and Police could had have ensured the conduct of a free and fair poll.

"Under the present set up the Elections Commissioner’s hands are tied, while the police has to do as the President,his ministers and MP’s say.Otherwise they would be sent home or transferred to areas far away from their homes."

All malpractices committed during the campaign and on election day by government goon squads were reported to the Elections Commissioner and the Police,but no action was taken,Attanayake said."The Elections Commissioner has no real power.Only the establishment of independent Elections,Police and Public Service Commissions, will give government servants the courage to act impartially,without being scared of losing their jobs."

Attanayake said that the TMVP, ministers and MP’s, threatened and even assaulted opposition candidates ."None of their vehicles were checked,giving them the freedom to transport what ever they wanted including arms to their offices situated close to polling booths."