Blame game on in Puducherry by-election

The Chief Minister speaking to reporters after visiting all the polling booths in the constituency on a two-wheeler along with former legislator John Kumar, said that the AIADMK was indulging in violence during the polling on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK candidate levelled similar charges against the Chief Minister Narayanasamy. He said, “the police department is functioning as a ‘puppet’ in the hands of the CM and it is of no use even if a complaint is lodged with the election officials.” 

Narayanasamy denied the allegations. He said that the Congress was not pressing people to vote for the ‘hand’ symbol and such charges were made to instigate violence.  However, AIADMK legislature party leader A Anbazhagan said that the Assembly by-election to Nellithope was not conducted in a democratic manner. He added that the AIADMK cadre were being chased away from the polling booths, while Congress and DMK cadres from outside were seen thronging the booths. 

Police on Saturday arrested a person on charges of attempting to distribute coupons worth Rs 5,000 to voters. Based on a tiff off, police on patrol at Velmurugan Nagar, chased four AIADMK cadre and captured one of them. Identified as Vedagiri from the same area, the AIADMK man had a bundle of Rs 5,000 coupon. He distributed the coupons asking people to vote and get Rs 5,000 on the victory of AIADMK candidate.