DMK cries foul in Kovilpatti PU indirect polls, Kani leads stir

AIADMK candidate S Kasthuri, the third ward member, had won by a whisker after bagging 10 votes. With a single vote more, Kasthuri defeated her rival M Poomari of DMK and ninth ward member, who managed to get 9 votes to the credit of her party.

However, expressing discontent over the outcome, the DMK ward members along with cadre, took to the Kovilpatti panchayat union office in large numbers and staged protest alleging irregularities in counting of votes. Thoothukudi DMK MP Kanimozhi and MLA Geetha Jeevan joined the protests. Along with the cadre they barged into the union office. A few ward members said they were forcibly taken away from the union hall by the police and there’s no transparency in counting.

The cadre staged dharna inside the union office and Kanimozhi appealed to the Returning Officer N Umasankar to recount the votes. However, the Returning Officer refused her request since counting was done in a transparent manner as per norms of State Election Commission and directive of High Court.

The cadre along with the MP and the MLA then took to Pasuvanthani Road, where they blocked vehicular traffic for hours together, demanding recounting of votes.

As a result of growing discontent, two workers made self-immolation attempt to register their protest against the electoral authorities. However, they were safeguarded, sources said.

Kanimozhi told reporters that counting was not done in a fair manner. While all ten ward members of the DMK were present during the polling, she wondered how the AIADMK candidate could win over the DMK candidate. The issue would be taken to the attention of court and DMK president MK Stalin would take up the issue legally.

The Returning Officer, when contacted, said the election was conducted at 10.30 am at Kovilpatti panchayat union council hall in transparent manner in the midst of Returning Office, four Assistant Returning Officers and a total of 19 ward members. Every vote polled during the schedule was captured live on video. Nobody raised objection until polling was over, but the DMK cadre objected only after results were declared.

After the AIADMK candidate S Kasthuri was officially declared winner, she took charge, he said.

As for the post of vice chairman to the Kovilpatti panchayat union, the indirection election was scheduled at 3 pm, at the same council hall.

A minimum of ten members were required to participate. But, since nobody turned up, the election has been postponed, the Returning Officer said.