The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Tension mars poll in Erode ward

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 20, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Tension mars poll in Erode ward

Canvassing leads to verbal abuse, police pickets posted

The last choice: Both DMK and AIADMK volunteers wooing an old woman at the last minute on Tuesday before the Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Erode where three polling booths for the 36th Ward Councillor election was held. Photo: M. GOVARTH AN.

ERODE: Tension prevailed in the slum area in Erode Municipal 36th ward last midnight but there was no untoward incident. The by-election for the Erode Municipal 36th ward was conducted today. The AIADMK candidate, Ramasamy and DMK candidate, N. Vinayagamurthy were in the fray. Last midnight some AIADMK volunteers visited the Tamil Nadu Housing Unit slum area and also "canvassed" the voters.

Noticing this some DMK members called their Erode town DMK Secretary, Kumar K. Murugesan, who rushed to the spot with some DMK members. The AIADMK called their Erode town Secretary, R. Manoharan who visited the place with his flowers.

No interference'

The two groups started abusing each other. The DMK urged the AIADMK not to canvass votes at midnight, but the AIADMK members wanted the DMK not to interfere with their canvassing. Tension lasted till the morning.

Voting commenced in three polling booths and heavy police pickets were posted. The former DMK Minister, N.K.K. Periyasamy, Erode AIADMK MLA, K.S. Thennarasu, Erode town AIADMK Secretary, R. Manoharan visited the booths.

Some women complained that though they were having Electronic Photo Identity Card (EPIC), their names were not seen in the voters list and could not exercise their franchise. According to officials it was stated that 61 per cent polling was made in the ward. Counting would be conducted in Erode Municipal office tomorrow (April 20) morning. Similarly election was conducted in one ward member each in Alangium and Vairamangalam.

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