Thursday, Feb 27, 2003
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Tamil Nadu
By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau
The EC yesterday expressed its ``strong disapproval'' of the Chief Minister offering projects to the Sattankulam electorate when the model code was in force. Following the EC observations, the Chief Minister should, in the interest of democracy, consider whether she still had the moral right to continue in office, Mr. Karunanidhi said. However, the EC decision was delayed and the Commission should have responded earlier. Referring to the Chief Secretary's explanation that no promise was made and that only an assurance was given, Mr. Karunanidhi said an assurance was equivalent to a promise. Explaining, he said that in the Assembly, the assurances committee went into any assurance given by Ministers to examine whether it was fulfilled. When a Minister said he would consider a certain proposal, it was taken as an assurance by the committee. But in Sattankulam, the Chief Minister promised a cement factory, a polytechnic and other facilities and benefits. Speaking at a literary meeting yesterday, Mr. Karunanidhi, said had the EC decision come early, the people would have taken it into consideration while casting their votes.
Congress charge
The AICC secretary, G.K. Vasan, said the EC delayed taking a decision on AIADMK ``violation of norms''. In a statement, he said though the promises made by Ms. Jayalalithaa and intimidation of voters by AIADMK Ministers, who camped in the constituency, were highlighted by the media, the EC failed to take a decision in the initial stages. Moreover, it was learnt, the AIADMK men continued to camp in Sattankulam, though outsiders had been evicted from the constituency. At Tuticorin, the CPI State secretary, R. Nallakannu, demanded the resignation of Ms. Jayalalithaa. In a statement, he said the official machinery was misused on a large-scale in the run-up to the election. The Chief Minister, who came in for adverse comments, lost her right to maintain law and order in the State. Hence, she should resign.
Cong. seeks repoll in 10 booths
In Tiruchi, the TNCC working president, E. V. K. S. Elangovan, alleging widespread bogus voting by the AIADMK men has said the party would petition the Election Commission to order re-polling in 10 booths in Karungulam union. Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Elangovan said, his partymen and the public thwarted attempts to cast bogus votes in various booths. Despite that, the ruling partymen managed to cast bogus votes in the 10 booths— Karungulam 4, Kalvai 2, Serakulam 3 and Ramanujapudur 1. The Congress agents were chased away by hooligans and the police turned a blind eye despite complaints. Presspersons and photographers were also assaulted by AIADMK supporters. Mr. Elangovan said the Election Commission disapproval of the promises made by the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, was `serious' and she should quit if she had even an iota of belief in democracy. The Congress believed that the Election Commission would have disqualified the AIADMK candidate. `I don't know why they have not done it so far', Mr. Elangovan wondered. He complained that a Minister had pitched camp in the constituency despite a directive by the Election Commission to evict all outsiders. Mr. Elangovan said his party was not fully satisfied with the steps taken by the Election Commission on their complaints. Referring to the case registered against him by the police of attacking the car of the Assembly Deputy Speaker, Mr. Elangovan said, it was a foisted case. He said he was in Nazareth when the incident took place in Sattankulam town.
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