The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Protests at a few places mark swearing-in of councillors

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Thursday, Oct 26, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Protests at a few places mark swearing-in of councillors

Staff Reporter

Demonstration, effigy-burning and squatting on road are reported

SUPPORTERS' IRE: Loyalists of the Opposition party at Pozhichalur near Pallavaram take to roads protesting against the swearing-in of Varadammal Gnaanamani as panchayat president on Wednesday. — PHOTO: K. Manikandan

TAMBARAM : Elected representatives of rural and urban local bodies in the southern suburbs of Chennai were formally inducted after the swearing-in ceremony.

But the day of ceremonies also saw some demonstrations, especially at Agaram near Tambaram and at Pozhichalur, by supporters of candidates who lost elections.

In Pozhichalur, residents and supporters of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam burnt an effigy of M. Gnaanamani, ward member of the village panchayat and its former president. The residents and partymen alleged that ruling party and officials worked together to ensure that his wife Varadammal Gnaanamani became panchayat president.

They said that on the day of counting (October 18), D. Kalaiarasi, who contested as independent, polled 3,174 votes, maintaining a lead of 140 votes after the first round of counting. However, ruling partymen forced the officials to re-count votes.

The officials, too, said recounting was done as both of them polled 3,171 votes each. After recounting, Kalaiarasi polled 3,102 votes, 47 votes less than Varadammal Gnaanamani, who was officially declared winner late on October 19.

Alleging large-scale malpractices, the residents and partymen gathered near the Pozhichalur bus stand and staged a demonstration. They also burnt an effigy of Gnaanamani and demanded re-election for the post of village panchayat president. They dispersed after police intervention.

However, all ward members and the president completed the formalities during the swearing-in ceremony.

At Agaram, a village panchayat near Tambaram, supporters of all candidates, who contested for the president's post, squatted on the road, demanding that Ms. Govindammal should not be sworn in as president and alleged rigging during voting and malpractices during counting.

The police asked the demonstrators to register their complaints with the State Election Commission. . Swearing-in of ward members and president at Agaram then passed off peacefully.

At Madambakkam, swearing-in of councillors was held amidst tight security. Following reports that there were plans to abduct a couple of councillors soon after the ceremony, a large number of policemen descended near the town panchayat office. Soon after the councillors took the pledge, they were bundled into vehicles by their supporters and taken away.

At Tambaram, Commissioner Liaqat Ahmed Pappa adminstered an oath of office to councillors, while Commissioner Ethiraj observed the formalities for councillors at Pallavaram.

In St. Thomas Mount Panchayat Union, M. Manoharan, former chairman, and elected as councillor from ward No. 9 (Nanmangalam) took an oath after officials asked a senior member of the council to carry out the formalities.

Prior to reading the pledge, councillors of the different parties first paid their respects to their respective leaders, causing murmurs among those who had gathered to watch the proceedings.

At Pallavaram, nearly a dozen colour television sets were installed to enable partymen and others to have a look at the proceedings of the swearing-in ceremony inside the meeting hall.

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