SEC orders repoll in 130 booths

By Radha Venkatesan

CHENNAI, OCT. 17. In the wake of unprecedented violence in yesterday's civic election, the State Election Commission today ordered repolling in 130 booths and instructed the police to resort to firing, if necessary, to ensure peaceful polling in the second phase tomorrow.

Amid opposition outcry over ``blatant malpractices'' particularly in Chennai, the State Election Commissioner, Mr. P. S. Pandyan, ordered repolling in 43 violence-hit booths in the city besides 87 in other areas of the State on Friday.

Also, repolling would be held in another 125 booths in which polling could not be held because of mix-up of ballot papers or delay in reaching materials due to rains, Mr. Pandyan told reporters here.

The State Home department had been given ``strict instructions'' to avert untoward incidents during the repoll and initiate stringent action against trouble-makers, he said.

However, it was ``upto the police'' to take action against the culprits involved in the yesterday's poll violence as the Commission had to depend on the State apparatus for security arrangements, he said. ``I do hope they are efficient enough'', he added. Asked if the Chennai police acquitted themselves well yesterday, Mr. Pandyan merely said it was ``too early to say anything''. All he would say was that ``general polling was relatively okay''. Nonetheless, he would not agree with the Opposition on its charges of large-scale malpractices in the city and their demand for repolling in all city booths. Even the wildest allegations by public and opposition only ``talk of violence in 10 per cent of the booths''.

The turn-out in the first phase was ``very good'' at over 66 per cent, with Ariyalur, Tirunelveli and Pudukottai districts reporting between 70 and 75 per cent. ``It only shows that the people have faith in the local bodies''. But in Chennai, only 36.11 per cent turned up possibly because the residents preferred to stay indoors as it was declared a Government holiday.

In Coimbatore corporation limits, the turn-out was 43.52 per cent, in Tirunelveli 47.96 and Salem 58.22.

Meanwhile, the DMK-led front and Congress front leaders met the Governor, Dr. C. Rangarajan, separately and urged him to direct the State Election Commission to order repoll in booths where ruling partymen indulged in malpractices. However, the State Election Commissioner said the Governor could not issue a directive to him in this regard.

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Section  : Southern States
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