Posts Tagged Tiruchendur
Allowing Tamil as one of the languages in Parliament is the collective demand
Posted by ganesh in Assembly, Chennai, Communication, Culture, Departments, Trichendhur, function, government, programme on January 18th, 2010
Allowing Tamil as one of the languages in Parliament is the collective demand of the DMK, VCK and Muslim League and not my personal wish”, M K Alagiri, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers, told reporters here on Sunday.
Alagiri,on a one-day visit to Tiruchendur, met partymen and the public at various places and conveyed his gratitude for electing Anita R Radhakrishnan in the recently- held by-election.
Reiterating his demand that Tamil should be allowed in Parliament, he said, “Only my demand has been given much hype even though the demand for Tamil in Parliament is the wish of many.” Addressing partymen at Authoor and Manapad, he vehemently attacked PMK president S Ramadoss, calling him a ‘political prostitute’.
Alagiri called DMDK as ‘theratha DMDK’, meaning ever failing, and added that this party, which is unable to get even 2,000 votes, is now begging for political alliance.
He also challenged Vijayakanth to contest against him at Madurai in the 2011 Assembly elections. When asked about the sick SPIC in Thoothukudi, he promised that steps are underway to revive it by this month end.
ON STATE POLITICS: When asked whether he will enter State politics, Alagiri said that he cannot predict the future. “Can’t I serve people being in central politics?” he retorted.
Brother of Tiruchendur DMK MLA was reportedly missing
Posted by ganesh in Others, Trichendhur, illegal, police on January 4th, 2010
Brother of Tiruchendur DMK MLA Anita Radhakrishnan was reportedly missing here since Saturday morning.
According to police, Nithyanandam (54) went missing after his morning walk on Saturday. His family members searched for him in all their business establishments in Madurai and out of the town where he was taking care of a part of the operations earlier.
Nithyanandam’s son Ramanand had lodged a complaint with Tallakulam police station. The police have intensified search operations.
It may be recalled that Ashok Kumar, proprietor of Sri Jeyam Reals and Games, went missing in a similar manner and Murugesan, Chief Town Planning Officer, also disappeared during his regular walk. The duo later reappeared with the former saying he was not abducted and the latter claiming that he was released after paying ransom to his abductors.
Jayalalithaa alleged DMK victory is only artificial
Posted by ganesh in Chennai, Coimbatore, Politics, Trichendhur, competition, election, illegal on December 24th, 2009
AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa today alleged that the ruling DMK had indulged in various electoral malpractices to secure victory in the bye-elections to the Tiruchendur and Vandavasi assembly constituencies.
“Since they (DMK) have indulged in using muscle and money power during this election,the victory is only artificial”, she said in a statment here.
Alleging that the Centre was also backing DMK’s ‘unethical activities’, she said “this will not continue for long. Undemocratic atmosphere will soon change”.
Asking her candidates not to get upset by the results, she urged them to continue their work in a democratic way.
She alleged that since the Election Commission had failed to take steps against DMK for its ‘high-handedness’, her party had boycotted the previous five assembly bye-elections in August.
“Though the results were on expected lines, AIADMK had fielded candidates for (December 19) bypolls because a time should not come that no one will be there to compete with them(DMK)”.
Counting of votes polled in the byelections
Posted by ganesh in Chennai, Other, Politics, Trichendhur, competition, election, government on December 23rd, 2009
Counting of votes polled in the byelections held for Tiruchendur and Vandavasi Assembly constituencies on Saturday will begin tomorrow amidst tight security.
It is expected that results will be announced in the forenoon itself, courtesy the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The fate of 39 contestants will be decided tomorrow when counting takes place.
.
Eighty per cent voter turnout was recorded in the bypolls for the two Assembly seats with the polling being largely peaceful, despite claim by political parties that their opponents were planning to unleash violence.
According to Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta, ‘polling was by and large peaceful with 82 percent votes cast in Vandavasi and around 78 percent in Tiruchendur.’
As the commission decided to match the images of the voters captured on web cameras installed in the polling booths with those stored in its servers, the polling process took some extra time. Gupta said the decision helped prevent bogus voting.
The monitoring of the poll percentage via SMS from the polling officials every hour till 3 pm and every half an hour after that was also effective. Though charges of bribing the voters with cash, liquor, dhotis, saris and even mobile phone recharge coupons flew thick and fast, Gupta said it was difficult to verify the allegations. The two seats witnessed a three-cornered contest between the DMK, the AIADMK and the DMDK.
The AIADMK had boycotted the last byelections in August and party general secretary Jayalalithaa asked the Election Commission to declare the DMK candidates as winners without holding the polls.
The bypolls were necessitated by the death of DMK MLA SC Jayaraman at Vandavasi and resignation of former AIADMK MLA Anitha R Radhakrishnan at Tiruchendur.
On Saturday, besides State police, paramilitary forces were also deployed, especially in sensitive booths, to ensure peaceful polling. Eleven companies of Central forces were deployed in 196 booths in Tiruchendur and 217 in Vandavasi, for the polling. Of the 11 companies, six and a half were deployed in Tiruchendur and the remaining four and a half in Vandavasi.
Polling in the by- elections to Vandavasi and Tiruchendur
Posted by ganesh in Chennai, Departments, Politics, Trichendhur, competition, election, government on December 19th, 2009
Polling in the by- elections to Vandavasi and Tiruchendur Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu began at 0800 hrs this morning.
The fate of 39 candidates in the fray for both the seats would be sealed today. The by-election was necessitated following the death of ruling DMK MLA S P Jayaraman in Vandavasi and due to the resignation of AIADMK Tiruchendur Legislator Anitha Radhakrishnan, who had quit the party and joined the DMK.
The DMK had nominated Anitha Radhakrishnan for the Tiruchendur seat, which has 25 candidates in fray. There are 14 candidates in the fray in Vandavasi (Reserved) constituency.
Both the seat are witnessing a triangular contest, with the main Opposition AIADMK and actor Vijayakanth’s DMDK in the fray.
Campaigning for by-elections for two assembly seats in Tamil Nadu ended
Posted by ganesh in Chennai, Other, Politics, Trichendhur, competition, election, tamilnadu on December 18th, 2009
Campaigning for by-elections for two assembly seats in Tamil Nadu ended Thursday, an official said. The polls are scheduled to be held Saturday.
Political parties and candidates wound up their campaign in Vandavasi and Tiruchendur assembly constituencies at 5 p.m.
The by-elections will see three-cornered contests with the DMK, the AIADMK and the DMDK fighting for the spoils.
A total of 39 contestants are in the fray — 14 in Vandavasi and 25 in Tiruchendur.
For the first time in the country’s polling history, the Election Commission has decided to match the images of voters captured by the web camera installed in the polling booths with those stored in its central servers to eliminate bogus voting.
As during the August by-elections for five constituencies, the commission will record the polling process live through the web cameras and monitor it from control room here.
While Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was the star campaigner for the DMK, Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa and actor-politician Vijayakant were the star attractions for their respective parties.
The two Left parties – the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Communist Party of India which contested in the August by-polls – have this time announced their support to AIADMK candidates while PMK asked its cadres not to vote.
Though charges of bribing the voters with cash, liquor, dhotis, saris and even mobile phone recharge coupons flew thick and fast, Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta said it is difficult to pursue the allegations.
Gupta said 11 companies of paramilitary forces – five from the Central Reserve Police Force and six from the Karnataka State Reserve Police – will be deployed for poll security duty.
State, images of all voters, captured on web cameras at the time of polling,
Posted by ganesh in Chennai, Other, Politics, Trichendhur, election, government, programme on December 17th, 2009
For the first time in the State, images of all voters, captured on web cameras at the time of polling, will be compared with their images available in the central server’s database of electoral photo rolls.
This will be done in the Tiruchendur and Vandavasi Assembly constituencies, where by-elections will be held on Saturday.
The comparison will be carried out by the control room set-up at the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Naresh Gupta, CEO, said, adding that any discrepancies found would be immediately acted upon.
The entire poll proceedings at polling stations of the two constituencies would be recorded live.
Tiruchendur and Vandavasi accounted for 196 stations and 217 stations respectively.
After conducting a video-conferencing session with the District Election Officers of Tiruvannamalai and Tuticorin districts, Mr. Gupta told reporters that polling officials concerned should ensure entries in registers regarding the production of documents for identification.
Apart from the Electors’ Photo Identity Cards, 13 documents such as passports, driving licences, Permanent Account Number cards, issued by the Income Tax department, and Health Insurance Scheme Smart Cards, issued by the Union Labour Ministry up to October 31, 2009, would be allowed.
Asked why family cards issued by the State Food and Civil Supplies department were not accepted for identification, Mr. Gupta replied that the Minister concerned went on record in the Assembly that there were surplus cards in circulation.
The State had a high degree of coverage of EPIC, he said, wondering why there should be insistence on family cards.
In August when the by-elections were held in five constituencies, there were no problems on this count.
Regarding the complaints of distribution of money to voters, Mr. Gupta acknowledged that it was difficult to pursue such cases.
He had been getting a number of complaints such as distribution of dhotis or saris, exchange of tokens for liquor and recharging of mobile phone connections.
As for the distribution of money or materials, those who were indulging in such activities disappeared from the scene as soon as government officials went to the spot.
Security arrangements
Totally, 11 companies, five from the Central Reserve Police Force and six from the Karnataka State Reserve Police, had been ordered for deployment.
Already, six and a half companies had arrived in Tiruchendur and four companies in Vandavasi,
Vote for DMK for the continuance of welfare schemes.
Posted by ganesh in Departments, Trichendhur, competition, election, government on December 16th, 2009
Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment D. Napoleon, addressing a campaign meeting at Authoor in Tuticorin district
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Government led by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was extending innumerable welfare schemes beyond the expectations of the people in all walks of life, said D. Napoleon, Union Minister for State for Social Justice and Empowerment.
Kicking off his campaign in favour of the DMK candidate, Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, who is contesting in the by-poll to Tiruchendur constituency, at Authoor in Tuticorin, Mr. Napoleon appealed to the people to vote for DMK for the continuance of welfare schemes.
With concerted efforts of Ministers from various portfolios, the State Government, with huge potential would extend more developmental schemes in the coming days. Referring to the untiring efforts of Mr. Karunanidhi, he said the Chief Minster was living a life of commitment and passion for serving the people.
All the electoral promises made in the manifesto during 2006 were fulfilled and the people had unshakable faith in DMK. Taking deep pride, he said no other Chief Minister had extended a series of welfare measures to the people. “Our people are really fortunate to enjoy all privileges and Tamil Nadu, is the only state in India, where a kilogram of rice is being sold at Re. 1,” he informed the people.
For the past three and a half years, the State Government had launched various developmental projects including the Periyar Ninaivu Samathuvapuram to facilitate the needs of people. “DMK will achieve a massive victory and the people are with us,” Mr. Napoleon exuded confidence.
Campaign proceeded through Sernthapoomangalam, Punakayal and various parts near by Tiruchendur. He was accompanied by N. Periyasami, district secretary, DMK.
Counter-allegations of ‘cash for votes’ have surfaced in several parts of the Tiruchendur constituency
The lorry, carrying bundles of saris and dhotis allegedly meant for distribution to voters in the Tiruchendur constituency, which overturned at Rajapani Nagar, near Tuticorin
Allegations and counter-allegations of ‘cash for votes’ have surfaced in several parts of the Tiruchendur constituency.
Major political parties have formed small groups of cadres drawn from various southern districts to “approach” voters “to win” their support. Members of these groups “meet” the allotted number of (usually 50) voters frequently to make sure their votes are cast in support of their candidates.
“Yes, I received Rs.3,000 from a stranger, who approached me a couple of days ago with an appeal to cast three votes in my family in favour of his party’s candidate. For me, it is big money and hence I accepted it,” admits a grocery shop owner at Auththoor.
There have been reports of ‘influential persons’ in villages approaching strangers with a list of voters and assuring them that arrangements could be made to “get” votes.
A free refectory near Auththoor bus-stand, proudly declaring itself ‘Election Special Non-Vegetarian Mess’ through a huge flex board at the main entrance of the hall, is feeding round-the-clock the cadre mobilised from various parts of the southern districts.
“As all the parties have pumped in hundreds of workers into the Tiruchendur Assembly constituency; you can’t get food from any hotel so easily. Devotees visiting Lord Subramaniaswamy Temple these days struggle a lot as every hotel here has been fully occupied by the cadre and office-bearers of political parties,” said K. Subramanian, a devotee from Thiruvarur district.
The overturning of a mini-lorry loaded with several bundles of saris and dhotis on the outskirts of Tuticorin on Sunday evening has lent credence to the general allegation that freebies are being pumped into Tiruchendur constituency. Within a few minutes of the incident, the ill-fated lorry and the ‘consignment’ were recovered by some people while three persons who travelled in the lorry were rushed to hospital with injuries. Since the lorry was proceeding from Tuticorin to Udankudi near Tiruchendur, it is believed that the saris and dhotis were meant for distribution to voters.
Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta told The Hindu that he had instructed officials to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and check any attempt to distribute money to voters. “Enquiry into the alleged distribution of gold rings to voters in some parts of the constituency has already started,
DMK, AIADMK clash involving cadre of both parties in Tiruchendur
Posted by ganesh in Attack, Politics, Public, Trichendhur, competition, illegal, police on December 10th, 2009
The Meignanapuram police have registered five cases on complaints lodged by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam over a clash involving cadre of both parties on Tuesday.
Three additional battalions of police have been sent to Tiruchendur to maintain law and order.
The clash broke out when the AIADMK cadre were planning to set up an election office in Thandupaththu near Tiruchendur ahead of the by-poll.
According to sources, the office was about to be set up in front of the house of DMK candidate Anitha R. Radhakrishnan.
Trouble when the DMK cadre opposed the move. Soon cadre of both parties pelted vehicles parked on the site with stones and attacked each other with weapons.
An AIADMK cadre, Madhavan Pillai of Kanyakumari district, was seriously injured in the incident and admitted to the Government Hospital at Tiruchendur.
He was later referred to the Government Medical College Hospital in Tirunelveli. Three more injured have been admitted to other hospitals.
Eight vehicles belonging to the AIADMK and a vehicle of the DMK were damaged in the violence.
The AIADMK cadre filed three complaints against the opponents while the DMK volunteers filed two complaints. The Meignanapuram police have booked cases under Indian Penal Code Sections 147, 148, 294 (B), 324, 379, 506 (II), 341, 109 and Section 4 of TNPPDL Act. No arrests have been made.
A team led by Inspector-General of Police, South Zone, S.S. Krishnamoorthy, along with DIG, Tirunelveli Range, Kannapan and Superintendent of Police, T. Senthil Kumar, Tuticorin, is monitoring Tiruchendur constituency to prevent untoward incidents.
Recent Comments