Monday, Feb 25, 2002
Monday, Feb 25, 2002 |
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Tamil Nadu
CHENNAI, FEB. 24. ``We are defeated but not disgraced. Against many odds, the DMK managed to put up a creditable show in the Andipatti byelection'', the party president, M. Karunanidhi, said here today. Reacting to the poll results, Mr. Karunanidhi said the outcome was expected. But the party's charge that about 17,000 bogus votes had been enrolled by the AIADMK had been proved right. In the last Assembly election, he said, the AIADMK polled about 60,000 as against 78,000 votes this time. The DMK, which secured 35,000 votes last time, got 2,000 votes more this time, he told mediapersons. While he was not for giving any excuse for the defeat, Mr. Karunanidhi said that right from the beginning he had been complaining about largescale enrollment of bogus votes to the Election Commission. At one stage, the party even wanted to boycott the byelection as a protest against the ``Commission's apathy.'' But it decided to remain in the field as the party did not want to shy away from its democratic duty. The DMK leader regretted that despite many representations to the EC against the list of documents in lieu of the Commission's voters identification, it did not take cognisance of them. ``Again and again'' the party pointed out to the Commission that many savings account had been opened in local post offices to use the bank pass book as an identification in lieu of the EC card. Not only the EC ignored the complaint but also allowed inclusion of VAO nativity certificate in the last minute for alternative identification. Many VAOs were stationed near polling booths to give certificates to bogus voters. It was unfortunate that the Commission, which was supposed to be impartial and act in an independent manner, ``blatantly'' acted in support of the ruling party. There was no level-playing ground between the ruling party and the Opposition, Mr. Karunanidhi charged. The party was planning to take legal action against the EC's indifferent attitude to its various complaints, he said. Despite all the handicaps, the party candidate managed to secure more than 35,000 votes. ``It's a morale boosting show for the partymen.'' Extends birthday greetings By Our Special Correspondent CHENNAI, FEB. 24. Despite the party's defeat in Andipatti, the DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, did not fail to greet the AIADMK leader, Jayalalitha, on her birthday. His opening remark at the press meet was that he was not at all surprised by her victory in Andipatti. ``I extend my greetings on her birthday,'' Mr. Karunanidhi said.
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