The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Jayalalithaa, Vaiko flay poll violence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Jayalalithaa, Vaiko flay poll violence

Special Correspondent

"20 AIADMK men sustained injuries"

CHENNAI: The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Tuesday condemned the violence during indirect elections for the posts of president and vice-president of local bodies held on Monday.

In a statement, AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa said Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam activists indulged in violence at Andipatti. As many as 20 AIADMK

activists sustained injuries after country bombs were hurled at them, she alleged.

Charge against Karunanidhi

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was "pretending" to review the system of indirect elections for the post of heads of local bodies only because of protests raised by the DMK's alliance partners, Ms. Jayalalithaa said.

Vaiko's charge

Referring to Mr. Karunanidhi's remark, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, in a separate statement, demanded the restoration of direct elections and a fresh poll to the local bodies.

He said the DMK indulged in irregularities in the Velampalayam municipality in Coimbatore district and the Madurai (East) panchayat union where re-polling was conducted.

He also condemned the poll violence at Andipatti.

Mr. Vaiko criticised the Government for not holding elections to the post of chairperson of the Theni district panchayat as the post was reserved for a Dalit woman and both the candidates belonged to the AIADMK.

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