AIADMK wins in six municipalities

By S.Shanker

CHENNAI, OCT. 31. The AIADMK won in six of eight municipalities around Chennai when vice-chairpersons were elected on Wednesday, and allegedly indulged in violence in Maduravoyal town panchayat, where the party forfeited its chance to contest.

The elections were marked by attempts to woo over independent councillors to tilt the balance, but were generally without incident as the polls were conducted closed-doors and amid tight security. It was a subdued affair in Alandur and Madipakkam where violence was witnessed during and after the civic polls.

The AIADMK won in Alandur, Pallavaram, Avadi, Ambattur, Kathivakkam and Madhavaram, and the DMK in Thiruvottiyur and Tambaram. Of the six municipalities where the AIADMK has won the vice-chairmen posts, Alandur, Avadi and Kathivakkam are led by DMK chairmen. I

In Maduravoyal, AIADMK partymen allegedly attacked Ms.K.Premavathi, executive officer, for conducting the elections without them. According to her, the elections were scheduled for 9-30 a.m. but only the panchayat president and eight of 15 ward members were present. After waiting for an hour, DMK nominee Mr.G.Brindavan, was declared elected with eight votes.

Shortly after, AIADMK partymen and the seven other ward members arrived demanding re-election. When this was refused, Mr.Thendral Kumar, AIADMK candidate who had lost the president election, attacked her with a chair causing head injuries, along with Mr.Arul Yuga, AIADMK town secretary, Ms.Premavathi said.

All eyes were on the Alandur Municipality, where many expected violence. However, police had cordoned off the municipal complex on New Market Street and entry of staff belonging to the TWAD Board, Regional Transport Officer and the district Munsif-cum- Judicial Magistrate court were restricted. Only those with identity cards were permitted to enter the street, which was sealed at both ends by policemen.

With the Social Welfare Minister, Ms.B.Valarmathi, working overtime for the AIADMK candidate, tempers ran high. The police repeatedly pushed the crowd away from the gates and those peering over the compound wall on GST Road were asked to move away from the vicinity. The Kancheepuram DRO, Mr.K.Sankaran, and TWAD Board executive engineer Mr.M.Sivaprakasam, were present as election observers.

The councillors entered the complex about 9-20 a.m. after which for almost an hour-and-a-half there was no sign of what was happening inside. Partymen confined themselves to groups assuring one another of a favourable result. The first sign of the AIADMK candidate's victory came when one councillor came rushing out with his hands high showing the `Two-leaves' sign.

Jubilation followed with bursting of crackers, even as some volunteers said the Minister was on her way to congratulate the town unit for the victory. The victorious candidate Mr.J.Bakthavatsalam won 22 votes as against the 20 secured by Mr.K.Sundaramoorthy of the DMK.

At Pallavaram, five councillors, three from the DMK and two independents, abstained from voting besides which two more councillors absented themselves today. The AIADMK candidate Mr. Nizzar Ahamed, was a clear winner with 29 votes followed by Mr.M.Kannan (TMC) who managed only seven in the 42 member council. At Tambaram, the ballot papers of two councillors were found invalid. The DMK candidate Mr.Janakiraman bagged 26 as against 12 obtained by Mr.Sivaraman of BJP.

In the nearby Ullagaram-Puzhuthivakkam Town Panchayat, the DMK candidate, Mr.Tamilselvam secured 11 votes to the eight bagged by the AIADMK. At Madipakkam, it was a rather low-key affair, and Mr.P.Mohan was declared winner by a margin of five votes in the 15 member Panchayat council.

In Avadi, Mr.S.Abdul Rahim (AIADMK) won with 28 votes over Mr.P.Anna Durai (PMK), who polled 21 votes. In Kathivakkam, Mr.C.Selvam (AIADMK) with 13 votes beat Mr.K.Deivasigamani (DMK) who had 12 votes.

The Mr.V.Moorthy (AIADMK) was elected unopposed in Madhavaram. In Ambattur, AIADMK candidate Ms.Kausalya Mani won with 30 votes over Mr.Joseph Samuel (DMK), who had 23 votes.

In Thiruvottiyur DMK candidate Mr.N.Rajendran secured 29 votes over AIADMK nominee Mr.R.V.Mani, who had 18 votes.

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