OPS group seeks deployment of paramilitary force at RK Nagar

In their memorandum submitted to the EC by party leaders Dr Maitreyan, Natham R Viswanathan and KP Munusamy in New Delhi on Tuesday, AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) has asked the Commissioner to depute a senior officer, possibly in the rank of deputy commissioner (election), instead of usual observers from other states, to monitor the RK Nagar by-poll. 

The memorandum, which was believed to comprise video evidences of supporters of TTV Dinakaran allegedly distributing cash to voters, has asked the Commission to depute central force immediately and not closer to the polls to prevent large scale poll violations. 

Stating that they have approached the EC to ensure the conduct of free and fair polls in RK Nagar, member of Parliament Dr V Maitreyan accused a few ministers in the state of threatening their party cadre. Wondering how the state election machinery could be expected to function in a neutral manner when the chief minister was involved in the election campaign, Maitreyan reasoned that the election would be free and fair only if staff of the union government were engaged in the election process. 

Meanwhile, in the constituency, Jayalalithaa’s niece and MGR Amma Deepa Peravai secretary Deepa Jayakumar commenced her campaign late on Monday. She promised to increase the capacity of the Kasimedu fishing harbour, provision of boats and fishing equipment at subsidised rates and retrieval of Katchatheevu. She spoke only for 15 minutes. She informed DTNext that it was only a meeting to introduce her symbol boat, to the residents. Her husband Madhavan, who is touring the state to interact with the supporters said, “If requested, I will campaign for Deepa in RK Nagar. The aim of my political outfit is to ensure that Deepa becomes chief minister.”

In an ingenious way, the OPS group has been making full use of the electric pole symbol by tweaking it to look like Two leaves in RK Nagar. Women supporters have been drawing patterns on the floor to popularise the symbol and posting the same in social media. AIADMK (Amma) candidate TTV Dinakaran has promptly complained to the election commission on this.