காரைக்காலில் புதுமை: பெண் அலுவலர்கள் மட்டுமே பணியாற்றிய 'பிங்க்' வாக்குச்சாவடிகள்; ஆட்சியர் பாராட்டு

காரைக்காலில் புதுமை: பெண் அலுவலர்கள் மட்டுமே பணியாற்றிய 'பிங்க்' வாக்குச்சாவடிகள்; ஆட்சியர் பாராட்டு

காரைக்கால் ஆயிரம் வைசியர் திருமண மண்டபத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த பிங்க் வாக்குச் சாவடியை பார்வையிட்ட மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அர்ஜூன் சர்மா

காரைக்கால் மாவட்டத்தில் பெண் அலுவலர்களை மட்டுமே கொண்டு இயங்கும் வகையில் 5 வாக்குச்சாவடிகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.

இன்று (ஏப்.06) நடைபெற்ற புதுச்சேரி சட்டப்பேரவைத் தேர்தலை முன்னிட்டு, காரைக்கால் மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள 5 சட்டப்பேரவைத் தொகுதிகளில் மொத்தம் 234 வாக்குச்சாவடிகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.

இவற்றுள் 5 வாக்குச் சாவடிகள் ”பிங்க் வாக்குச் சாவடிகள்” என முழுமையும் பெண் அலுவலர்களால் மட்டுமே நிர்வகிக்கும் வகையில், புதுமையான முறையில் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.

வரிச்சிக்குடி அரசு உயர்நிலைப் பள்ளி, செல்லூர் கால்நடை மருந்தகம், காரைக்கால் ஒப்பிலாமணியர் கோயில் தெரு அரசு தொடக்கப்பள்ளி, காரைக்கால் ஆயிரம் வைசியர் திருமண மண்டபம், நிரவி ஹுசைனியா அரசு உயர்நிலைப் பள்ளி ஆகிய 5 இடங்களில் இந்த வாக்குச்சாவடிகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.

காரைக்கால் ஆயிரம் வைசியர் திருமண மண்டபத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த பிங்க் வாக்குச் சாவடியை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியரும், தேர்தல் அதிகாரியுமான அர்ஜூன் சர்மா இன்று மாலை பார்வையிட்டார்.

பின்னர் அவர் கூறியது: இந்த வாக்குச்சாவடியில் தேர்தல் பணிகள் முழுவதையும் பெண்களே மேற்கொள்வது அவர்களின் தன்னம்பிக்கை வளர்வதற்கு ஒரு சிறந்த எடுத்துக்காட்டாக இருக்கும். இது போன்ற முயற்சிகள் ஒரு ஊன்றுகோளாய் அமையும் என்றார். ஸ்வீப் அதிகாரி முனைவர் ஷெர்லி உடனிருந்தார்.

TN elections: Abu Dhabi techie on vacation back home in Tiruchy finds his vote stolen

TN elections: Abu Dhabi techie on vacation back home in Tiruchy finds his vote stolen

When he provided his booth slip and identification proof for polling officials to verify his credentials, he was in for a shock as they informed him that his vote had already been cast

Published: 06th April 2021 05:11 PM |

R Ramesh Kumar

By Jayakumar Madala

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: Scenes from Kollywood flick Sarkar played out at a polling booth in Ponmalai on Tuesday when R Ramesh Kumar, an engineer working in Abu Dhabi, found to his shock that his vote had already been cast when he went to exercise his democratic right.

Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Mel Kalkandarkottai, works as an operations manager at a private firm in Abu Dhabi.

The 34-year-old, who had come back to India on vacation on March 22, decided to exercise his franchise by going to vote at his allotted booth -- Government Middle School in Mel Kalkandarkottai. However, when he provided his booth slip and identification proof for polling officials to verify his credentials, he was in for a shock as they informed him that his vote had already been cast.

Speaking about the incident, Ramesh Kumar said, "As I was present in my hometown during the polls, I thought I would cast my vote. When I approached the presiding officer at my booth, I was taken aback when they said that a vote has already been cast on my behalf. Only after cross-verifying with my identification proof, they realised that I was the original voter and a fake vote had been cast on my behalf."

The unidentified person who cast the vote on behalf of Ramesh Kumar had provided a fake Aadhaar card for details of identification. With the booth committee agents of various political parties also not showing any objections, the polling booth official accepted the fake Aadhaar card details and allowed the person to vote.

"The Aadhar details which were noted by the polling officer did not match with my identity proof. They had taken only the last four digits of the card and they were also incorrect. The officials present inside did not verify if the photograph in the Aadhaar card and the person present were the same. As a result of this farce, they provided me the facility of 'tendered' vote. But this has happened only due to the pure negligence of the polling staff," added Ramesh Kumar.

According to Section 49P of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, if a voter realises that someone has already voted in his/her name, they can approach the presiding officer at the polling booth and flag the issue. Upon answering the presiding officer’s questions about their identity, the voter will be allowed to cast a 'tendered' vote. These votes are cast on ballot papers and sealed and locked away. However, they are counted only when the margin between the winner and runner-up is slim. If there is a large difference, the tendered votes are not counted.

When contacted, S Divya Darshini, District Election Officer, Tiruchy, said, "The tendered vote facility is provided when someone else has cast the vote of the actual voters on their behalf. It will be difficult to ascertain who had cast the vote. We will conduct an enquiry once the polls conclude."

TN elections: Returning Officer allows son to cast father's vote in Tenkasi, this is why

TN elections: Returning Officer allows son to cast father's vote in Tenkasi, this is why

Returning Officer Rajamanoharan said that the polling staff and the booth agents of different political parties should have noticed the mismatch before Mathiyalagan voted.

Published: 06th April 2021 11:29 PM 

By Thinakaran Rajamani

Express News Service

TENKASI: After a 53-year-old man mistakenly cast his vote in the name of his 25-year-old son, the latter was allowed to cast his father's vote by the Returning Officer of Alangulam constituency on Tuesday.

Thangamani (25) said, "The polling staff delivered the booth slips for my family members on Monday. Since all of them were pinned together, my father, Mathiyalagan, who cannot read, brought my booth slip to the booth instead of his. Even though it was his fault, the staff on election duty should have noticed the mismatch in the name and age on the booth slip. But, the polling staff allowed him to cast his vote in my name. Later, when I was not allowed to cast my vote by the staff, I brought this issue to the knowledge of the Returning Officer. He then allowed me to cast my father's vote."

When contacted by TNIE, Returning Officer Rajamanoharan said that the polling staff and the booth agents of different political parties should have noticed the mismatch before Mathiyalagan voted. However, he refused to give an answer to the question on how a father and his son could exchange their votes.

Indelible ink vanishing after single wash?

Indelible ink vanishing after single wash?

Isolated incidents of the indelible ink disappearing after a single wash were reported in Coimbatore North and Chennai.

Published: 07th April 2021 05:25 AM |

The first time voter discloses the indelible ink mark on her point finger after casting her vote, at SIET College, in Chennai. (Photo | EPS/ P.Jawahar)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Isolated incidents of the indelible ink disappearing after a single wash were reported in Coimbatore North and Chennai. While some more incidents were reported on social media, Express could not verify the claims.

Vishnu Swaroop was among the first to vote in his constituency in Coimbatore (North). He voted at the Kovilmedu Corporation High School at 7.30 am and came back home to realise that his electoral ink had washed away by 10.30 am.

“I called up the flying squad toll free number and the constituency returning officer, and did not get a proper response. So I went back and told the presiding officer about the issue at 4 pm. They inked my index again,” he said. However when he reached home at 4.15 pm and washed his hands, the ink washed off again, he said.

The returning officer of Coimbatore (North) however denied any such incident in the constituency. Another resident from Chennai said that her ink was barely visible after she used alcohol based sanitiser on it.

Tamil Nadu Elections: Work from home gives them will, time to go vote

Tamil Nadu Elections: Work from home gives them will, time to go vote

The pandemic, which put employees in their homes, has become an ‘enabler’ this time

Published: 07th April 2021 05:32 AM 

Kerala goes to poll today. 

By Aadhithya MS

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: Many a campaign has been held by the Election Commission to raise awareness among people, especially the youth, on exercising their franchise. However, not every time can one travel to their hometown to get inked, thanks to their hectic lifestyle. However, this time probably, the tables have turned. Call it the ‘pandemic effect’, the work from home option has enabled more youth to come forward and cast their votes this time.

“Usually, we are given a day off to vote. But to just come down for that day and return to our workplace on time is taxing. Sometimes, there is a job pending as well. Given all that, only if employees can manage a long weekend, they go for voting. Many of my colleagues, and even I had missed out on voting chances several times,” says Abul Hassan, an IT professional from Tiruchy. “This time, however, we had it easy. Our employer in Chennai hasn’t called us back yet, and we are continuing to work from home. So, most of us are in our hometowns,” he adds.

K Akil from Karur, who works at a multi-national company in Bengaluru, shares the same opinion. “If there was no work from home, I might not have come this time,” she says. “This time, I did not even take a half-day leave. I was at the polling station by 8 am, was guided to the booth, got inked and walked back home. It did not take over 30 minutes,” she adds.

Kamaal, a DMK functionary who oversees booth agents in the locality, says: “Many youth in this locality are employed ar MNCs in Chennai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi. I know a fair share of them who missed the 2019 Parliamentary elections and the previous Assembly polls. This time, however, the turnout was impressive.”

Tamil Nadu Elections: Alangudi NRI flies down from Singapore to vote

Tamil Nadu Elections: Alangudi NRI flies down from Singapore to vote

Taking this spirit of patriotism up a notch, 29-year-old Sathiyasheelan travelled all the way from Singapore to Senthankudi in Alangudi to exercise his franchise.

Published: 07th April 2021 05:36 AM 

By Sowmya Mani

Express News Service

PUDUKKOTTAI: It’s usually only in movies that we see NRIs flying down to their natives to cast their votes. Taking this spirit of patriotism up a notch, 29-year-old Sathiyasheelan travelled all the way from Singapore to Senthankudi in Alangudi to exercise his franchise.

Sathiyasheelan reached his village 20 days ago. Not only is he interested in voting, but also passionate about the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK). “I came early to garner votes for the party, and to ensure that we improve our performance in this election. I hope that the party gets double the votes it did in the 2019 elections,” he says.

An engineer by qualification, Sathiyasheelan works for building maintenance in Singapore. He says though it was difficult getting leave from work, he did it for the elections. “I’ve been interested in politics and the betterment of people’s lives since childhood. I got involved with the NTK in 2009, even before its inception. I love the Tamil culture, and want to help protect it,” he adds.

Sathiyasheelan hopes to have inspired others in his village to vote, and says he didn’t mind the Covid tests and quarantine as it was all for a cause. “If I can come all the way from Singapore, people can travel for a few kilometers to vote,” he says.

Fake doc held for third time

Fake doc held for third time

Rajkot:  07.04.2021 

A 55-year-old man was caught practising as a doctor without a legitimate degree from near Aji Dam chokdi in Rajkot city on Tuesday. This was the third time that Sanjay Sompura was caught by cops.

According to police, Sompura, a resident of Shri Ram Park, used to practice as an ayurvedic doctor without a degree. Police also seized medicines and injections from his clinic.

Police said Sompura used to work as a compounder at a hospital six years ago before he started his own clinic. He was arrested for the first time about two and a half years ago. Later, he was arrested for the offence in November last year.

“Sompura has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Medical Practitioners’ Act-1963. After he was caught for the first time, Sompura changed the name of the clinic to Dr Lakkad’s clinic and started treating people,” police said. TNN