The Hindu : DMK plea to EC

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 08, 2002

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DMK plea to EC

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 7. The DMK Parliamentary Party has urged the Election Commission to deploy adequate para-military forces and greater number of observers for the byelections to the three Assembly constituencies of Tamil Nadu — Saidapet, Acharapakkam and Vaniyambadi — scheduled for May 31.

Apprehending clashes and violence, the party also asked the Commission to send four observers with the team of officials to oversee the byelections in Saidapet and six observers to the other two constituencies.

In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Election Commissioner today, the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu said the State had witnessed violence during the elections to the local bodies and the corporation recently.

Alleging that the ruling AIADMK was behind the electoral violence and there was "unprecedented rigging in the last election to the Chennai Corporation," it said "the State police were mere bystanders. The polling officers were threatened and beaten up by the ruling party's supporters.''

The number of observers should, therefore, be increased and Central forces like the CRPF deployed to ensure free and fair elections, the MPs said.

The signatories included the DMK Deputy Parliamentary leader in the Lok Sabha, C. Kuppusami, S. S. Palanimanickam, V. Vetriselvan, A. Krishnaswamy, A. D. K. Jayaseelan, A. K. S. Vijayan, Adhi Shankar, D. Venugopal, the Rajya Sabha party leader, S. Viduthalaivirumbi and R. Shanmugasundaram.

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