The Hindu : AIADMK councillors gherao Mayor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 31, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

AIADMK councillors gherao Mayor

By S. Sundar

MADURAI DEC. 30. Councillors belonging to the AIADMK today gheraoed the Madurai Mayor, C. Ramachandran. His car was also damaged after a heated exchange over non-disqualification of a DMK member, R. Pandiammal, who did not attend three successive meetings, after she was arrested in a theft case.

After chaotic scenes inside the council hall, the AIADMK members, condemning the Mayor for `unilaterally' deciding on the issue without allowing any discussion, laid siege to his car. The flagstaff and two lights were damaged in the melee. Tense moments prevailed for nearly an hour, when the AIADMK councillors and partymen, led by the opposition leader, S. D. Jeyabalan, did not allow the car to move.

Agitated at the `inaction' of police personnel, who were present in strength, the DMK councillors later resorted to a road roko. Members of the CPI (M) and the CPI too joined them.

It all started when S. Mahalingam, CPI (M), opposed a resolution demanding a no-objection certificate from the council for regularising a six-cent `vacant' government land, which has been in the possession of Manohari, wife of the Assembly Speaker, K. Kalimuthu.

The AIADMK members were on their feet when Mr. Mahalingam made a reference to the Speaker. Even when the Mayor tried to pacify the shouting AIADMK members, they rushed towards his chair. When it was pointed out that a building was already constructed on the `vacant land', the AIADMK members charged at the communist councillors. At one point, the angry councillors came close to exchanging blows.

As the councillors did not heed his plea to remain silent, the Mayor took up the next resolution on `disqualification of Pandiammal' and declared that the council had "condoned" her absence and hence she would not attract Section 57 (4) of the Madurai Corporation Act, which disqualified any councillor who failed to attend three consecutive meetings. Pointing out that Ms. Pandiammal had contended that she could not attend the meetings as she had been arrested on "suspicious grounds", the Mayor said that when the case was pending before court, the councillor could not be considered "guilty". He then left the hall in a huff, adjourning the session.

The meeting, which remained silent for a minute, plunged into turmoil as the AIADMK members started shouting. Amidst noisy scenes, the plastic nameboards of the communist parties kept on the tables were smashed.

Later, when the Mayor emerged out of his chamber, the AIADMK members did not allow his car to move. The police could not "effectively" prevent the AIADMK members, and it became a free-for-all and the members of both parties clashed. When the car driver forced his way, the gates were closed, leading to more commotion.

The crowd swelled as more cadres led by the AIADMK district secretary, Raju, and the DMK district secretary, V. Velusamy, arrived at the scene, as the DMK men continued with their road roko. After nearly an hour of pushing and pulling, in the presence of the large posse of police personnel, the clashing groups left.

According to Corporation officials, the motion on disqualification of Ms. Pandiammal was not passed, as it required voting. No case was registered against the AIADMK members in the absence of a formal complaint, the police said.

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