Symbol mess: Re-poll at Viralimalai

According to VSP Sekar, the candidate, his actual symbol was a spanner and he campaigned for the spanner symbol. However, on the day of polling, his symbol was wrongly printed as a screw on the ballot paper. Following the error, Sekar demanded the officials to order for a re-election.

The District Collector who is also the District Election Officer, took the matter to the State Election Commission. The State Election Commission taking the matter into consideration, later declared for a re-poll. The re-election has been scheduled along with the second phase of local body polls on December 30.

It may be recalled that Sekar, an AIADMK functionary who was denied a party ticket for the Panchayat Union Ward (No 15) Member for Viralimalai panchayat union, was reportedly allotted the spanner symbol and he campaigned vigorously to win the seat. Sekar who was confident of winning the seat, was shocked to find the symbol of screw on the ballot paper. Startled by this, Sekar argued with the polling officials and demanded to suspend and reschedule the polling.

Meanwhile, the Pudukkottai police who secured Moorthi for fleeing with the ballot box on Friday, have established a hunt for three others. The Keeranur police has registered a case under seven IPC sections and the 379 section of Panchayat election act.