Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

‘Poll code violations continue’

COIMBATORE: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India have alleged that the violation of the Model Code of Conduct that marked the Lok Sabha elections in the State was continuing in the run-up to the by-elections to five Assembly constituencies on August 18.

Addressing an election meeting here on Tuesday, State secretaries of the parties N. Varadarajan (CPI-M) and D. Pandian (CPI) alleged that money was being used to influence voters. They also sought to point out to the voters how the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre raised the price of fuel as soon as it assumed charge for the second time.

At a joint campaign by both the parties for CPI (M) Thondamuthur candidate V. Perumal, Mr. Varadarajan cautioned voters against getting influenced by money. He also wondered why election officials in Cumbum wanted to know now itself who would be the party’s agent in a particular booth. “This is a strange order. It will only give room for the agent being singled out for intimidation by other parties,” he said.

Mr. Varadarajan accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government of not providing house site pattas to all poor families.

It had not kept its promise, but claimed to have done so, he said.

Mr. Pandian said the Communist parties were not using the by-elections to merely increase the seats tally in the Assembly, but to register their protest against the anti-people policies of the Central and State Governments.

Stating that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam might have had its own reasons to stay out of the contest, he, however, felt that boycott was never a part of a political struggle. He also wondered why Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko did not use the by-elections to register his protest over the condition of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.

CPI (M) Central Committee member W.R. Varadarajan alleged that crores were being spent by the Congress and DMK in the by-elections to win seats whose tenure was only about 20 months.

Referring to the fuel price increase, Coimbatore MP P.R. Natarajan asked people not to forgive the Congress on this issue.

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‘Poll code violations continue’

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