Election for Ward 16 postponed

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, OCT. 9. The election for Ward 16 of the Chennai Corporation has been postponed following the death of the Congress candidate on Monday night.

However, the Mayoral elections in the division will be held as per schedule. The Congress had fielded Vannai Kalidasan for the division.

In the evening, the Corporation Commissioner, Mr. J.T. Acharyulu, convened an all-party meeting at the Ripon Building which was attended by the representatives of the political parties and Independents for the Mayoral post, besides the Election Observer, Mr. Sanwat Ram, and the newly-appointed local observers.

The representatives were given a broad outline of the model code of conduct. Mr. Acharyulu sought the cooperation of the political parties to conduct a free and fair election. The DMK, represented by the Triplicane MLA, Mr. Hussain, and Mr. Sa. Ganesan, drew the attention of the election officials to possible malpractices-booth capturing and bogus voting-and demanded strict security on poll day.

The Independents lodged a protest about discrimination by officials. They asked why they were asked to pay Rs. 5 per page for a copy of the electoral roll whereas it was being distributed free of cost to the recognised political parties. Mr. Acharyulu said it was as per the Election Commission guidelines and any protest should be lodged with it.

The Commissioner also asked the candidates of political parties to exercise restraint on poll day, especially while putting up their election offices.

Earlier, the State Election Commissioner, Mr. P.S. Pandyan, convened a meeting of election officials of the Corporation and instructed them to get the election materials including ballot papers ready on time. He also asked them to make arrangements for additional security cover in all sensitive areas to prevent booth capturing and bogus voting. He said any malpractice should be reported immediately to the designated authorities, said a Commission release.

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