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Planned violence by DMK, alleges Vaiko

Staff Reporter

Seeks re-poll to all Chennai wards with security provided by paramilitary forces

CHENNAI: MDMK general secretary Vaiko has demanded re-poll to all wards of the Chennai Corporation with security provided by paramilitary forces.

Alleging the involvement of DMK workers in "large-scale rigging in most polling booths" less than an hour after polling began on Friday, Mr. Vaiko said it was planned violence by the party. Terming it "murder of democracy," he claimed in a statement that DMK candidates and MLAs captured booths and cast bogus votes after attacking the candidates of the AIADMK-led alliance and voters across the city. In ward 81, MDMK candidate Sekar was assaulted by goondas of the ruling party. Ravichandran in Ward 142, Angammal in ward 92 and Selvapandian in ward 158 were also targeted, said Mr.Vaiko.

He alleged that DMK candidates entered the booths along with armed rowdies and cast bogus votes. He said Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was shifting the blame on the Opposition parties. Pointing out that district secretaries of the DMK's alliance parties, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India, had demanded re-poll in their wards, Mr. Vaiko questioned Mr. Karunanidhi's claim that the first phase of the elections was a success.

He said the Police department and the State Election Commission had acted as instruments for executing the commands of the ruling party.

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