Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Seven chairman posts for DPA

Special Correspondent

AIADMK gets only one of the eight municipal chairman posts in Cuddalore, Villupuram

ELECTED: District Collector Gagandeep Singh Bedi issuing certificate to S. Silambu Selvi after she was elected chairperson of Cuddalore district panchayat on Saturday.

CUDDALORE: The Democratic Progressive Alliance candidates have bagged seven of the eight municipal chairman posts in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has got a solitary post.

The new incumbents are: Cuddalore — T.Thangarasu of DMK; Chidambaram - Fouzia Begum of CPI (M); Nellikuppam - Raja Gaekwad Babu of (DPI); Panruti - Pachaiyappan of DMK; Vriddhachalam - V.K.Murugan of PMK; Villupuram - Janagaraj of DMK; Tindivanam - Bhoopalan of PMK, and Kallakurichi - Alaguvel of AIADMK.

Keen contest

At Chidambaram, it was a keen contest between two constituents of the DPA - Fouzia Begum of the CPI (M) and S. Anbarasi of the PMK. In a surprising development, the AIADMK and the DMDK extended support to the PMK candidate.

The political circles were apprehensive that the contest would generate a lot of heat, and hence the authorities deployed strong police force at the Council Hall.

However, the secret ballot went off without any incident, with Ms. Begum polling 17 of the 33 votes and Ms. Anbarasi 16 votes.

Crucial role

Independents played a crucial role in determining the outcome.

At Panruti, the AIADMK suffered a shocking reversal; for, even though the party had obtained a majority in the council (17 of the 33 wards and its ally MDMK one), it was the DMK candidate who emerged victorious.

The outcome went in favour of Pachaiyappan, who polled 17 votes, thus indicating cross voting.

Tension

Palpable tension prevailed at the council right from the morning as a large number of the AIADMK leaders as well as cadres, including the former Minister C.Ve. Shanmugham, gathered there.

Soon after the counting began, the rival councillors tried to enter the counting hall, and it resulted in a minor tussle.

The police chased away the party men away from the Council Hall. At Tindivanam, reserved for Dalits, the AIADMK had given up chances of getting the chairman post, as it had not fielded a Dalit candidate. Hence, Mr. Bhoopalan of the PMK was elected unopposed.

At Kallakurichi, Alaguvel of the AIADMK emerged winner by a margin of single vote: he secured 11 votes against Sarasu of the DMK who polled 10 votes.

In both the District Panchayats, women candidates of the PMK have been elected chairpersons — S. Silambuselvi for Cuddalore and S. Vasundara Devi for Villupuram.

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