Unhappy AIADMK cadre besiege Minister’s office, try to attack him

More than 200 cadres, who were supporters of the AIADMK functionaries who anticipated seats in the civic polls, gathered at the office at around 10 am and raised slogans that the candidates for the ward numbers 8, 14, 15, 21 and 55 were not familiar to the people of their respective wards. They alleged that the minister had shown his favouritism in seat allotments. They also went to the extent of accusing Vellamandi Natarajan that he had accepted money for allotting the seats. 

“The present candidate for Ward No 55 is the wife of Boopathi, who is the one who burnt the portrait of the Chief Minister when he was in the Congress. But I am with the same party for more than 30 years and I am denied seat. With this, I will surrender my party identity card and opt for NOTA,” said Mallika Balasubramanian. She also alleged that Natarajan had accepted huge money for allotting this seat to the wife of Boopathi. 

Similarly, the council member Sudhakar, from Ward No 8, who was also denied a seat said that the person who is not from the ward and unfamiliar was allotted seat in his ward. “Since the candidate is rich enough to give huge sum, he got the seat but this is not good, the minister should reconsider our request and allot seat for the one who is from the same ward,” Sudhakar said. 

Meanwhile, the members from wards 14, 15 and 21 also gathered and raised slogans against the minister and the candidates. While the protest was going on, the minister reached the office in his car and on seeing his car, the cadre blocked vehicle and banged it and attempted to pull the the minister out. However, a cadre identified as Padmanaban rescued him from being assaulted. 

Subsequently, the minister held talks with the agitating members and assured to take the issue with the party high command. Later, they dispersed from the spot.

The incumbent Mayor A Jaya and former mayor of the city Sarubala R Thondaiman, both being AIADMK candidates filed their nomination papers with the Assistant Returning Officers of their respective zones in City Corporation for the ensuing civic body polls scheduled on October 17. 

Speaking to the media persons after filing her nominations, Sarubala said, that the AIADMK would get a massive victory as it received in 2001 local body polls. She also wished the speedy recovery of the party chief and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The party cadre have commenced their works enthusiastically, she added. Meanwhile, the incumbent mayor A Jaya said that the party would win in all 65 wards and the AIADMK candidate will definitely adorn the mayor post. Sarubala this time has been allotted Ward No 44 from where she was elected as a member in 2001 and was elected Mayor for the first time, when she was with the then TMC.