The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Council resolution for action against Dayanidhi Maran, Stalin

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 24, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Council resolution for action against Dayanidhi Maran, Stalin

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, DEC. 23 . The All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)-led Chennai Corporation Council today passed a resolution urging the Election Commission to take action against the Union Minister, Dayanidhi Maran, and the former Mayor, M.K. Stalin, for allegedly flouting the code of conduct during the parliamentary elections.

The resolution, passed after the eviction of all Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Congress councillors, said there was proof of Mr. Maran and Mr. Stalin having distributed gifts to voters in Central Chennai during the campaign earlier this year.

With the Commission initiating action against the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader, Lalu Prasad, for violation of the code, similar action could be initiated against the DMK leaders. The resolution also demanded action against the DMK member, P.T. Sivaji (division 111), who was also allegedly involved in the distribution of gifts.

The meeting witnessed protests from the Opposition councillors right from the beginning when the Deputy Mayor, R. Thiagarajan, allowed P. Vetrivel (AIADMK) to raise a point of order, ahead of the DMK floor leader, C.V. Malayan.

Mr. Malayan later told the media: "The Opposition councillors must get the preference to speak first. What is happening is not democratic."

Missile flung at chair

Mr. Vetrivel suggested that the Council pass a resolution demanding Election Commission action. The DMK whip, P.V. Kalyanasundaram, rose to retort and when the Deputy Mayor refused to allow him to speak, flung a file at the Mayor's chair. Soon AIADMK members rushed to the well and there were heated exchanges between the DMK and AIADMK councillors.

The Deputy Mayor ordered the eviction of Mr. Kalyanasundaram and later of all DMK councillors. When the Congress floor leader, R. Mano, wanted to condemn the eviction, the entire Congress contingent was also evicted.

`Undemocratic'

The Opposition councillors alleged that the continued evictions at the Council meetings were further proof of the "undemocratic" conduct of the Deputy Mayor.

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