The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : DMK files counter memorandum with police

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Friday, Oct 06, 2006
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Tamil Nadu - Chennai

DMK files counter memorandum with police

Staff Reporter

Accuses AIADMK of violence, vote rigging in 2001 civic polls

CHENNAI : Soon after the AIADMK submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner of Police on Thursday, the ruling DMK lost no time in joining issue with the Opposition.

A delegation led by North Chennai district DMK secretary L Balaraman presented a counter memorandum to the Commissioner of Police.

The DMK alleged that the AIADMK had indulged in unprecedented violence in the October 2001 elections held to the Chennai Corporation, sowing widespread panic, so much so that many did not cast their votes.

They alleged widespread `booth capturing' and casting of bogus votes. Ballot papers were strewn outside the polling stations. In some polling stations, the Returning Officers were chased away and AIADMK men took control of the polling stations, the memorandum claimed. The DMK alleged that in the two by-elections held subsequently the AIADMK had adopted a similar strategy.

On April 8, 2002, during by-elections to two wards (ward 16 and 99) of the Chennai Corporation, the AIADMK resorted to violence and won the elections.

When by-election to ward No.7 was held on September 27, 2004. "We submitted a letter to the Commissioner of Police listing out the happenings during the earlier elections," the DMK said in its memorandum and said it asked the High Court to intervene.

Subsequently, the High Court directed the authorities to provide adequate protection on polling day, the DMK members noted.

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