Coop society poll: AIADMK, AMMK men clash

The polling for the Directors and other office bearers for the Cooperative Thrift Societies located at Udayalur, Swamimalai and Thirupurambiyam in Kumbakonam, was scheduled on Saturday and tough fight was marked between AIADMK and AMMK.

In Udayalur society, the fight was three-faced and members from AIADMK, DMK and AMMK were contesting. During the polling, a 70-year-old woman Boopathi who was standing in the queue to cast her vote was snatched of her ballot paper by AIADMK men. Immediately, the woman raised alarm and the AMMK men received information about the ruckus.

Based on information, AMMK South Union Secretary Balamurugan and State General Secretary M Rangasamy arrived at the spot and soon, the AMMK leaders demanded the officials to stop the polling.

Following the hue and cry, the AIADMK Kumbakonam Union Secretary K Arivazhagan, Tiruvidaimaruthur Union Secretary Ashok Kumar and Town Secretary Rama Ramanathan along with around 150 party cadre reached the place and started raising slogans against AMMK.

Soon both the party cadre started charging at each other for attempting to cast bogus votes and this resulted in a heated argument. A few cadres even exchanged blows and hence, on information, a police team led by Kumbakonam DSP Jayachandran arrived at the spot and held talks with both the party men.

While DSP Jayachandran was trying to pacify the party members, suddenly someone from the crowd reportedly pelted stones and a few even sustained mild injuries. Following this, the AIADMK cadre surrounded the election official Tamil Selvi demanding her to put off the polling while AMMK cadre demanded her to continue the polling. Again this resulted in an unrest and the police went on trying to pacify both the cadres.

Despite the efforts of officials, a few persons continued to pelt stones at the polling centre. Subsequently, on seeing this, the official Tamil Selvi declared the postponement of the polling until further notice and pasted the announcement in front of the polling centre. Later, the cadres dispersed from the spot.