The Hindu : Front Page : DPA bags top local body posts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 29, 2006
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

DPA bags top local body posts

Tamil Nadu Bureau

Cross-voting in the battle for chairmanship creates disaffection among allies

CHENNAI: The Democratic Progressive Alliance emerged successful in Saturday's elections to the top posts in five Corporations and 28 district panchayats, but cross-voting and rebel activities in the battle for chairmanship of municipalities, town panchayats and panchayat unions created disaffection among the allies.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India and the Pattali Makkal Katchi suffered losses in several local bodies as DMK members flouted their leadership's directive and cornered the posts in the indirect elections. Confusion in the DPA helped the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam win the chairmanship in several local bodies, including the Tuticorin district panchayat.

With the DMK enjoying a majority in Madurai, Tirunelveli and Salem, its candidates had no difficulty in getting elected. The Congress nominees emerged successful in Coimbatore and Tiruchi with the support of the DMK. In several municipalities, "rebel DMK and Congress nominees" defeated official candidates of the DPA.

State PMK president G.K.Mani accused the DMK of defeating its candidates at several local bodies. Among them were the PMK nominees for Kancheepuram district panchayat, Arcot, Hosur, Sirkazhi and Chidambaram municipalities and Avaniapuram, Jolarpet and Thiruverkad third grade municipalities. The party also lost 15 panchayat unions and 17 town panchayats, he said.

The CPI, which was allotted two district panchayats and four municipalities, was able to win only one district panchayat and two municipalities. Its nominee for the chairmanship of Tuticorin district panchayat was defeated.

In Rajapalayam, Kadayanallur and Velampalyam municipalities also its candidates suffered defeats. Candidates of the CPI(M) could not succeed in Kuzhithurai, Kasipalayam and Thuvakudi municipalities and around ten town panchayats.

CPI leaders charged that "rebel" DMK and Congress councillors had defeated the party's nominees. Central Executive Committee member of the party R.Nallakannu said it was unfortunate that official candidates of the DPA were defeated in some municipalities and district panchayats.

State CPI (M) secretary N.Varadarajan said cross-voting and rebel candidates defeating official nominees in the election for the post of chairpersons of the local bodies showed that the local functionaries of the DMK were not under the control of the State leadership.

Notable among the defeats suffered by the Congress is the loss of chairmanship of Nagercoil municipality, where the party rebel Ashokan Solomon won.

Election of a woman candidate of the DMDK as vice-chairperson of the Dindigul municipality with the support of the DMK councillors resulted in a group clash. The DMDK backed the DMK nominee for the post of chairperson of the municipality.

DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan said 18 functionaries belonging to Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Madurai (rural), Salem and Nagapattinam were expelled for violating party discipline. Show cause notices were served on three MLAs — M.Appavu, Udhayam Shanmugam and K.P.Ramasamy.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page