The Hindu : Front Page : A lakh votes at stake here for elections

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Thursday, Dec 01, 2005

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A lakh votes at stake here for elections

K.V. Prasad

Sharp increase in the number of houses in unapproved layouts Boom in housing and loans from private banks for projects even in unapproved layouts has led to a sharp increase in the number of houses

COIMBATORE: It cannot be clearer. Unapproved layouts across the State will decide the conduct of Corporation and municipal council meetings.

In the 105.5 - sq.km. Coimbatore city, more than a lakh votes are at stake in 72 wards and every councillor has begun to run that extra mile to battle for amenities forbidden for these layouts as per rule.

Councillors forced the adjournment of Wednesday's Coimbatore Corporation Council meeting when they did not get a commitment on providing roads, streetlights and drinking water. "This is the case across the State," the Leader of the Opposition and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member, K.P. Jagannathan, told The Hindu . "Therefore, the anguish we express in the Council here is applicable to the situation in the rest of the cities and towns in the State" - a statement indicative of the issue spreading like a contagion.

Adding heat

The councillors stepped up the heat on the Corporation early this year with the Assembly due in April-May next year. Council meetings had been adjourned or held without the Opposition owing to discord over this issue.

AIADMK support

On Wednesday, the Opposition got the support of even All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) members. Though not vocal, the latter were still in agreement with the Opposition that there was no point in holding the Council meeting without solving the problems in about 450 unapproved layouts. Boom in housing and loans from private banks for projects even in unapproved layouts has led to a sharp increase in the number of houses.

The councillors know that there are many more votes in these layouts than when they won the elections in 2001.

And, there were more than a lakh votes to be won through amenities, especially roads and piped supply of drinking water.

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