Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Gordian knot

This refers to the editorial "Cutting the Gordian knot" (Jan. 19). Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has shown great sagacity in asking the councillors elected from 99 wards to the Chennai Corporation in October to resign (98 of them have resigned). The move has cleared the only predominant blot on the DMK-led DPA dispensation in the State, which has done a creditable job in undertaking pro-poor measures since it came to power.

V.R. Srinivasan,
Mumbai

The resignation is small consolation if one considers the logistics involved in conducting a poll or repoll as in the instant case. The bill for large-scale security arrangements, mobilising polling personnel, and printing ballot papers will have to be picked up by the voters themselves for no fault of theirs. It is time the Election Commission took a stern view of repolling caused by violence and partisan behaviour of those charged with the conduct of the election. The candidate or political party concerned should be asked to bear the costs.

M.K.D. Prasada Rao,
Bangalore

Was not Mr. Karunanidhi's Government responsible for all that went wrong in the elections? The statesmanlike intervention would not have been necessary had he acted immediately after the elections. Even the DMK's allies complained that the elections were flawed. Can the same team that made the elections a farce then be expected to act in an impartial manner when the repolling is held?

T.S. Pattabhi Raman,
Coimbatore

What will be the credibility of the fresh elections if the same officials conduct them? The Chief Minister should have ordered an inquiry against the police officers who were responsible for maintaining law and order on October 13, and directed speedy proceedings against those who organised the violence.

R.V. Chandramouli,
Chennai

The move is a political stunt. From the day of the elections, the Chief Minister knew that they were marred by violence and rigging. Had he asked his partymen to resign soon after and called for re-election, it would have been a statesmanlike move. Can the resignation of the 98 councillors undo the wrongs committed on October 13?

K. Vijayakumar,
Chennai

Alexander the Great cut the Gordian knot because an oracle foretold that whoever untied it would rule over Asia. Sonia Gandhi cut it by resigning and seeking re-election from Rae Bareli last year over the office-of-profit issue. It is now the DMK's turn. But unlike the distribution of freebies, the repolls cannot be conducted free of cost. The candidates, the State Election Commission, and the police should share the cost.

T.S. Gopalakrishnan,
Chennai

What Mr. Karunanidhi has resorted to is a face-saving measure. Fielding the same candidates again will make a mockery of the electoral process.

S. Srimoolanathan,
Chennai

Law and order is the responsibility of the State, which should have ensured a peaceful environment for people to vote freely. The fact that this did not happen reflects the failure of the administration. With the guilty going scot-free and the officials responsible remaining unaccountable, it is the innocent voter who is going to be punished. All this, for something as fundamental as exercising the right to vote in a democracy.

Dhasaradhy Jagannathan,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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