The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : 52 per cent in Cuddalore, 57 in Tindivanam

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

52 per cent in Cuddalore, 57 in Tindivanam

By Our Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE, MAY 10. Polling was by and large peaceful in the district, the Collector, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, told presspersons here today.

He also gave a tentative break up of the percentage of polling: Cuddalore constituency (52 per cent), Chidambaram (58), and Mangalore Assembly (61).

As a precautionary measure, mobile parties would be on duty till Tuesday. There was an argument between two groups at Nattarmangalam and Andipalayam, and the Additional Superintendent of Police had left for the place to enquire into the matter, he said.

(A clash between two groups at Thondamanatham reportedly resulted in minor injuries to the a police inspector. Group clashes were also reported at Suthukulam and Valapattu).

Observer gheraoed

The election observer for Chidambaram constituency, Sanjay Ramesh Boose Reddy, was gheraoed by nearly 250 voters at Vadalur town panchyat, as their names were found missing on the list despite the possession of Electors' Photo Identity Cards (EPICs).

The Dalit Panthers of India candidate, Thol Thirumavalavan, reached the spot and sought remedial steps. Mr. Reddy reportedly told them that a Revenue Divisional Officer would be deputed to look into the issue.

The Villupuram Collector, K. Gopal, told reporters that polling in the Tindivanam constituency registered approximately nearly 57 per cent, while the overall percentage in the district stood at 56 per cent. Of the total voters who exercised their franchise, 70 per cent possessed EPICs, while the rest had brought one of the 14 documents recommended by the Election Commission.

(There were complaints of malpractices at the Karuveppilaipalayam polling station, which prompted the Pattali Makkal Katchi to demand a re-poll. There was also an allegation that an All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam polling agent was beaten up at Varattikuppam.)

The zonal officer, Mohammad Nizamudeen, at Thiagarayapuram in Sankarapuram Assembly segment was replaced by the Collector after receiving a complaint that he was acting in favour of a particular party.

Counting

Votes would be counted for the Cuddalore constituency at Periyar Government College, and the Chidambaram constituency and the Mangalore Assembly at Devi Karumariyamman Government Arts College at C. Mutlur on May 13.

For the Tindivanam constituency, counting would take place at Arignar Anna Government Arts College (Villupuram and Tindivanam Assembly segments) and Sri Ramakrishna Matriculation Higher Secondary School (Vanur, Kandamangalam, Mugaiyur and Thirunavalur segments).

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