Stalin’s 1st cabinet is mixed bag of experience & youth

Stalin’s 1st cabinet is mixed bag of experience & youth

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:07.05.2021

It is a mix of old timers, young and new faces in the 34-member cabinet of M K Stalin that will steer the state government for the next five years. The DMK chief has inducted15 new faces, reinforcing the party’s commitment to bring in versatility, but kept his son and first time MLA Udhayanidhi out of the council of ministers.

There are two women members, former minister P Geetha Jeevan, and N Kayalvizhi Selvaraj, who defeated BJP president L Murugan in Dharapuram in Tirupur district by a slender margin. The new faces include former party whip R Sakkarapani, Vellore East district secretary R Gandhi, Chennai former mayor Ma Subramanian, P K Sekar Babu (Harbour), Palanivel Thiagarajan (Madurai Central), and Thiruverumbur MLA and close confidante of Udhayanidhi, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi.

The party has rewarded erstwhile heavyweights of the AIADMK, who switched loyalties in the past two decades, including K K S S R Ramachandran, S Muthusamy, S R Rajakannappan, Anitha R Radhakrishnan and V Senthil Balaji. Ramachandran had served in the cabinets led by M G Ramachandran, J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi, holding PWD, cooperation, health and BC welfare portfolios. Erode strongman Muthusamy was minister in MGR and Jayalalithaa regimes, before switching sides. Senthil Balaji has been rewarded for helping the DMK win all four seats in Karur district for which he was in charge. Rajakannappan was an influential minister in Jayalalithaa’s first cabinet and briefly led a party, Makkal Tamil Desam.

“About half the cabinet is new. It consists of rich, experienced partymen and able youngsters, who can deliver the best to the state,” DMK Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson T K S Elangovan said. Except for K Ponmudi, who got back the higher education portfolio and Geetha Jeevan, social welfare, other seniors did not get previously held portfolios. Thangam Thennarasu, who was speculated to retain school education, has been given industries.

In a statement later in the day, Stalin explained the rationale behind formation of a new ministry called water resources, and changes in nomenclature of a few other ministries, including agriculturefarmers’ welfare, environment-climate change, medical and family welfare, fisheriesfishermen welfare, labour welfare and skill development, information, social welfare and women empowerment, human resources management and non-resident Tamils welfare.

“Functioning of the ministries and departments have undergone changes in the current situation. There is a compulsion to change the names of the ministries and departments with a long-term vision, considering the expectations of people, welfare of workforce, confronting challenges, the fixed targets and government goals,” Stalin said.

முதல்வரின் முதல் கையெழுத்து; அதிகரிக்கிறது எதிர்பார்ப்பு

முதல்வரின் முதல் கையெழுத்து; அதிகரிக்கிறது எதிர்பார்ப்பு

Updated : மே 05, 2021 05:15 | Added : மே 05, 2021 05:13 

சென்னை : முதல்வராக ஸ்டாலின் பதவி ஏற்றதும், எந்த திட்டத்தை செயல்படுத்த, முதல் கையெழுத்திடுவார் என்ற, எதிர்பார்ப்பு அதிகரித்துள்ளது.

தேர்தல் பிரசாரத்தில், தி.மு.க., பல்வேறு வாக்குறுதிகளை அளித்தது. அதில், குடும்ப தலைவிகளுக்கு மாதந்தோறும், 1,000 ரூபாய் உரிமைத் தொகை; கொரோனா ஊரடங்கால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட மக்களுக்கு, ரேஷன் கடைகளில், ஜூன், 3ம் தேதி, 4,000 ரூபாய் உதவித்தொகை. காஸ் சிலிண்டருக்கு, 100 ரூபாய் மானியம்; எரிபொருள் விலை, 5 ரூபாய் வரை குறைப்பு; ஆவின் பால் லிட்டருக்கு, 3 ரூபாய் குறைப்பு; அரசு பஸ்களில் பெண்களுக்கு இலவச அனுமதி உள்ளிட்ட, பல்வேறு அறிவிப்புகள் இடம் பெற்றன.

இதுமட்டுமின்றி, ஒவ்வொரு தொகுதியிலும், பொது மக்களிடம் புகார் மனுக்களை ஸ்டாலின் வாங்கினார். ஆட்சி பொறுப்பேற்ற, 100 நாட்களில், இந்த மனுக்களுக்கு தீர்வு காணப்படும் என்ற வாக்குறுதியையும், ஸ்டாலின் அளித்துள்ளார். இந்நிலையில், தி.மு.க., தலைவர் ஸ்டாலின், வரும், 7ம் தேதி, முதல்வராக பதவி ஏற்கவுள்ளார். அதன்பின், தலைமை செயலகத்தில் உள்ள முதல்வரின் அறைக்கு சென்று, பணிகளை துவங்கவுள்ளார்.

அப்போது, தேர்தல் நேரத்தில் வாக்குறுதி அளித்தபடி, எந்த திட்டத்தை செயல்படுத்த, அவர் முதல் கையெழுத்திடுவார் என்ற எதிர்பார்ப்பு, தி.மு.க.,வினர் மட்டுமின்றி, பொது மக்கள் மத்தியிலும் அதிகரித்துள்ளது. குடும்ப தலைவிகளுக்கு மாதம், 1,000 ரூபாய் உரிமைத் தொகை, இலவச பஸ் பயண அனுமதி ஆகிய திட்டத்தை செயல்படுத்த, அவர் முதல் கையெழுத்திட, அதிக வாய்ப்பிருப்பதாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

EPS resigns, to continue till next govt is formed

EPS resigns, to continue till next govt is formed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:04.05.2021

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday resigned after the ruling AIADMK suffered a rout in the assembly election.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit accepted the resignations of Palaniswami, who is in Salem, and his council of ministers that were sent to his secretary at Raj Bhavan. Purohit then dissolved the 15th Tamil Nadu legislative assembly.

“However, the governor has requested him (Palaniswami) and the council of ministers to continue until alternate arrangements are made,” said an official release from Raj Bhavan. The governor’s office is preparing for the new dispensation to take charge.

The DMK, contesting on the ‘rising sun’ symbol, won 133 seats, while the AIADMK led by O Panneerselvam and Palaniswami won 66 seats in the April 6 assembly election with the votes being counted on Sunday.

Later, Palaniswami tweeted, “I extend my wishes to M K Stalin, who will assume charge as chief minister of Tamil Nadu.” His deputy and AIADMK coordinator Pannerselvam also took to Twitter to extend wishes to Stalin. The DMK chief reciprocated, tweeting: “Need your advice and cooperation to create a better Tamil Nadu. Democracy is a combination of treasury and opposition. Let's protect democracy.”

Panneerselvam and Palaniswami in a joint statement said people were aware of the party’s excellent work for the state’s welfare in the last 10 years. “Treasury and opposition are both sides of the coin of administration. We have a responsibility to act as an instrument to ensure the chariot of administration is run appropriately. We will carry out all duties that are to be carried out with great responsibility as opposition,” they said.

Meme creators have a field day with TN election results

Meme creators have a field day with TN election results

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:04.05.2021

From the moment counting began on Sunday for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, meme creators have been on fire. For them, the weekend’s events had given enough ammunition to release a salvo of shots against both the losing politicians as well as their favourite IPL team Chennai Super Kings who had just lost to the Mumbai Indians a day before the election results were announced.

Among the first in the line of fire was MNM leader Kamal Haasan, who featured in a meme showing a picture of Faf Du Plessis of the CSK, dropping MI batsman Pollard’s catch next to a photo of him, seated dejected at the counting centre, watching his votes slip away in Coimbatore south constituency, and a heartbreak symbol between the two. The meme though scored 40,000 likes within a few hours.

Gautham Govindaraman, Founder and CEO, Chennai Memes, says they kept their jokes ready a day earlier, taking into account all possible scenarios. “As the results for the Coimbatore South constituency were delayed, we created memes for both outcomes,” he says.

“When exit polls were declared, we had an idea about what the results were likely to be. We had our team working on them since then,” says Gautham.

Some of the most popular memes on election result day included ones on MK Stalin’s victory, Udhayanidhi Stalin winning Chepauk, Khusboo losing Thousand Lights constituency, and O Panneerselvam and Edappadi K Palaniswami’s (EPS) reactions to the results.

Among the trending memes of the day was a short clip from the movie ‘Annamalai’, in which Rajinikanth (MK Stalin) walks towards the conference meeting and Sarath Babu (EPS) gives way to him.

Another meme features a smiling EPS with the caption, “I have passed everyone (students), but you have failed me (in the election)”, referring to his announcement earlier this year declaring that all students were promoted to the next grade on account of the pandemic.

Actor Rajnikanth seemed to feature in several of the memes. One in particular showed him with his hands above his head and the tagline, ‘Thankfully I escaped’, referring to the superstar’s constant dithering about joining politics.

However, meme creators say one has to be careful not to offend while creating memes. “It is a very thin line and one cannot go overboard,” says a meme creator.

COMIC RELIEF: A meme of Rajinikanth says “Thank God, I escaped.” (Left) A meme in which Dhanush asks Seeman,“If testing times are rare, it's fine, but all the time?”

AMMK cut votes of AIADMK+ in 21 seats

AMMK cut votes of AIADMK+ in 21 seats

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:04.05.2021

Politics may not be a pure play of arithmetic. But alliance arithmetic does play a role in electoral politics.

Take the case of T T V Dhinakaran’s AMMK. It has been annihilated in the assembly poll, with even Dhinakaran losing from Kovilpatti, and the votes the party polled got halved to10.57 lakh from the 21 lakh in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. However, election results show it played spoilsport for the AIADMK in not just south and central regions, but also in a few pockets in the north.

Back-of-the-envelope calculations indicate that AMMK candidates stood between the AIADMK alliance and victory in at least 21 assembly seats -- the votes polled by AMMK was higher than the margin of victory for the DMK alliance. While in a few seats, AIADMK alliance candidates could have romped home with a wide margin, in a few others they could have scraped through had AMMK been part of their camp.

The votes polled by the AMMK helped 12 DMK candidates and six Congress candidates, besides one each from the MDMK, the CPM and the VCK win. In the process,17 AIADMK candidates and three candidates of the PMK, besides one from the BJP, lost.

A month or two before the election process was set in motion and much before the release of V K Sasikala from the Bengaluru prison, the BJP’s central leadership had mooted the idea of accommodating AMMK into the alliance.

“While AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam was receptive to the idea, chief ministerEPS, based on feedback from few trusted ministers, opposed it. The BJP even mooted the idea of setting aside 30 seats from its quota to accommodate AMMK, but that proposal was rejected by AIADMK,” sources privy to the developments said.

From the archives: When MGR sailed on sympathy in 1984 polls

From the archives: When MGR sailed on sympathy in 1984 polls

The 1984 elections was held in the backdrop of assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Published: 28th April 2021 04:12 AM |

By S Kumaresan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The 1984 elections was held in the backdrop of assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The parliament and State Assembly members resigned as her son and heir apparent Rajiv Gandhi sought a fresh mandate. Soon after 1980 poll victory of AIADMK, Congress ditched its ally DMK and joined hands with the MGR’s party. They both contested as allies in 1984, and swept the polls. What helped the Congress was the sympathy for Indira Gandhi and MGR.

MGR’s party earned the unique distinction of winning Assembly polls for three consecutive times and that too when its CM candidate did not even campaign. The only campaign material for AIADMK were the visuals of MGR undergoing treatment and the funeral procession of Indira Gandhi. Also were the songs seeking MGR’s well-being. And it worked. AIADMK won 132 of the 155 seats it contested and its ally Congress won 61 of the 73. DMK was pushed to a distant third with just 24 MLAs.

The party had campaigned by placing corruption charges against the AIADMK and the massacre of Sikhs by Congressmen in the wake of Indira Gandhi’s assasination. It was J Jayalalithaa who compensated for the absence of MGR by extensively campaigning for the party and this also marked a milestone in her political career. Also, for DMK leader M Karunanidhi, this period proved that despite the party losing three elections, there could not even be a word raised against his leadership.

In this tenure as the CM, MGR managed to achieve a major victory in the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. He was instrumental in signing of India-Sri Lanka accord between the then PM Rajiv Gandhi and Lankan president JR Jayewardene, aimed at resolving the Lankan civil war. For the DMK, the renewed attempt by the Congress to impose Hindi came handy to put MGR in check. The new education policy envisaged setting up of Navodaya schools where Hindi will be one of the languages taught. It was also said that the Centre was insisting that all communications with it from the States should be in Hindi.

While MGR was not very vocal in his opposition, Karunanidhi and his partymen staged massive protests. Citing the incident in which the DMK burnt copies of the section of the Constitution, 10 MLAs were disqualified by the Speaker. Karunanidhi was sentenced to 10 weeks in jail. In prison, he was given the white uniform for convicts in half trousers. His photo in the prison uniform leaked in newspapers and caused much outrage. 1986 was also an eventful year for it was in that year MGR abolished the Legislative Council. This was after his nominee, actress ‘Venniraadai’ Nirmala, could not become a member since she had declared insolvency.

DMK had subsequently tried to revive the Legislative Council and could not till date. It remains even now a poll promise of DMK. In the next year, 1987, the State was rocked by Vanniyar Sangam protests seeking exclusive reservations. Its members blocked the transport movement for about a week in northern districts and ended with police crack down, killing 13 people in firings. This was followed by talks with its representatives but no decision was taken on the issue as MGR met with a sudden death on December 24, 1987. This led to another period of turmoil.

VR Nedunchezhiyan immediately assumed as the CM. The next month, MGR’s wife Janaki Ramachandran was elected as the CM and she was sworn in. However, the party was split into two as J Jayalalithaa also laid claim to the leadership of the party. On January 28, 1988, amidst unprecedented events in the Assembly, Janaki Ramachandran won the vote of confidence with support of just 99 members. Supporters of Janaki and Jayalalithaa clashed in the Assembly and Speaker PH Pandian disqualified six supporters of Jayalalithaa.

In the afternoon session, when just 110 members were present in the house, she won the vote of confidence. However, in just two days, on January 30, the Centre dissolved the government and imposed President’s rule. Meanwhile, actor Sivaji Ganesan was upset with this move and quit Congress. He floated a new political party, Tamilaga Munnetra Munnani. After the State government was dissolved, the then PM Rajiv Gandhi frequently visited and toured across TN with the aim of reviving Congress. History showed he was not very successful in this.

Last MGR cabinet

Cabinet members of

MGR’s third regime

(1985-1987): VR

Nedunchezhiyan,

S Ramachandran,

KA Krishnaswamy,

RM Veerappan, C

Aranganayagam,

K Kalimuthu, C

Ponnaiyan, HV Hande,

S Muthusamy, S

Thirunavukkarasu,

R Soundararajan,

MR Govendhan,

Gomathi Srinivasan,

Vijayalakshmi

Palanisamy, YSM Yusuf,

KKSSR Ramachandran,

K Rajaram, VV

Swaminathan,

T Veerasamy, N

Nallusamy, Anoor

PG Jagadeesan,

T Ramasamy, A

Arunachalam

1984 POLLS

Tota l seats :234

AIADMK won : 132

(37.03% vote share)

INC: 61 (16.28%)

DMK : 24 (29.34%)

CPI : 2 (2.62%)

CPM: 5 (2.76%)

Janata: 3 (2.28%)

Gandhi Kamaraj

Congress: 2 (0.56%)

Ambedkar

Kranti Dal: 1 (0.22%)

Independents: 4

Victory banner of AIADMK man creates a flutter

Victory banner of AIADMK man creates a flutter

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Tirupur:29.04.2021

A photograph of a banner proclaiming that AIADMK candidate of Kangayam constituency in Tirupur district A S Ramalingam has won the assembly election with a margin of 13,483 votes surfaced on social media platforms on Wednesday, creating a flutter.

AIADMK candidate Ramalingam disowned the banner and said it was put up by people who do not belong to his party. “Local AIADMK functionaries spotted the banner and removed it promptly as it was a violation of election code. Now the photograph of the banner taken at that time has been circulated. It’s an attempt to defame me and AIADMK,” he said.

The banner had images of late chief ministers C N Annadurai, M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa besides chief minister Edapppadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam, characteristic of all AIADMK banners.

The words on the banner profusely thanked voters and party cadres for enabling Ramalingam win Kangayam assembly constituency. In 2016, AIADMK allotted Kangayam segment to Kongu Ilaignar Peravai leader U Thaniyarasu who contested in Two Leaves symbol and won with a margin of 13135 votes. This election, AIADMK retained the seat for itself.

Ramalinagam said as soon as the issue was brought to his notice, he inquired about it with the partymen. “Even they were not aware about the identity of people behind this banner. Since the name of the printing press was not there, we could trace them,’’ he said. Ramalingam said he lodged a complaint with the police to take action against those who kept the banner as well as those who circulated images with false information that the banner was kept today.

COME AGAIN?: The banner thanks voters and party cadres for enabling Ramalingam win Kangayam assembly constituency by a margin of 13,483 votes

Tamil Nadu polls: Strong rooms under tight vigil as counting day draws near

Tamil Nadu polls: Strong rooms under tight vigil as counting day draws near

Despite Sunday being a holiday, ACs, computers and servers in the centres were functioning, raising suspicion.

Published: 20th April 2021 04:51 AM 

By Express News Service

KARUR/THANJAVUR: “The Election Commission must ensure that no electronic equipment is brought to the counting centre,” DMK’s Karur district in-charge, Senthil Balaji, said on Monday.Addressing reporters at M Kumaraswamy Engineering College in Karur, he said, “After the election on April 6, all EVMs, VVPATs and control units were shifted to the counting centre and stored in the college.

Despite Sunday being a holiday, ACs, computers and servers in the centres were functioning, raising suspicion. On receiving information from monitoring party representatives, we (Senthil Balaji, Aravakurichi candidate Monjanur Ilango and party cadre) arrived at the counting centre and inspected the security arrangements.

Earlier, a CCTV camera at the backside of the centre was installed only after we informed authorities about it. Our party representatives complained about the functioning of the computer lab on Saturday and Sunday. No one should bring any electronic gadget or equipment to the counting centre. Even if it is the college management, electronic devices must be strictly prohibited till counting ends. The ECI must restrict district administration from operating the college WiFi and servers till counting ends,” he said.

Meanwhile, DMK candidates of Thanjavur, Tiruvaiyaru and Orathanadu visited the counting centre set up at Kunthavai Naacchiaar Government Arts College for Women on Monday and inspected the working of CCTV cameras from the room allocated for representatives of political parties. EVMs used in three constituencies are kept at separate strong rooms in the centre with a three-tier security.

Later D Chandrasekaran, Tiruvaiyaru candidate and party’s district secretary, said the camera at the entrance of the college was not functioning properly. He also demanded that there should be a revolving camera at the spot.Meanwhile, the district administration said antennas were removed and the camera in the entrance was working but the direction had been altered to cover the entire entrance following complaint from candidates.

How are political parties manning the strong rooms? A sneak peek...

How are political parties manning the strong rooms? A sneak peek...

Spot visit by Express revealed that DMK and AIADMK candidates have deployed three persons a day for each constituency on shift basis.

Published: 19th April 2021 04:13 AM |

Agents for candidates from various political parties watching the CCTV videos of the strong room at GCT | Express

By B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: With counting of votes for the April 6 Assembly elections scheduled on May 2, monitoring of strong rooms that house the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units have been keeping political party cadre on their toes. With three-tier security arrangements, the EVMs are guarded by Central forces round the clock.

In addition, representatives of contestants also carry out vigilance for strong rooms. EVMs and VVPATs for 16 constituencies in Chennai are stored at Loyola College, Anna University, and Queen Mary’s College. Spot visit by Express revealed that DMK and AIADMK candidates have deployed three persons a day for each constituency on shift basis. The shift timings are fixed as follows: 6 am to 2 pm, 2 pm to 10 pm, and 10 pm to 6 am.

The agents would be most trusted local functionaries or their relatives. Interestingly, candidates from actor Kamal Hassan’s MNM deploy two persons a day, while NTK, AMMK, and DMDK candidates have not engaged their men. A tent was set up with plastic chairs for 20 to 25 persons. The representatives were allowed to monitor the visuals of CCTV cameras installed at various locations through electronic screens near the tent.

At Loyola College, six to seven AIADMK representatives monitor the strong rooms, while more than ten DMK cadre are involved in vigilance. The college houses the EVMs and VVPATs of Kolathur, Perambur, Villivakkam, Egmore, Thousand Lights, and Anna Nagar constituencies.

“In view of possible scuffles at counting centres, DMK candidates have fielded three to four of their close confidants as independents in every constituency. Thus, apart from representatives of the DMK candidates, the party’s functionaries are also involved in vigilance duty as nominees of independent candidates,” said M Alexandar, MNM representative at Loyola College. The persons deployed by AIADMK and DMK say that they watch the CCTV footage and vehicle movements in the area. The nominees are allowed to use mobile phones for making phone calls.

VN Babu of DMK from Thousand Lights, said, “Power supply for the strong room, where the EVMs and VVPATs are stored had been disconnected and there were no CCTV cameras there. But the visuals of the surveillance cameras that are installed at entry and exit points for strong rooms, steps, and other places in the campus can be monitored through the screen. The presence of Central forces can also be seen in the visuals.” However, the agents pointed out that they closely monitor the entry of unauthorised persons and vehicles into the campus.

“So, we are told water tanks are filled through trucks outsourced from the Metro Water. We check the movement of trucks in person and supervise the works till the trucks leave the campuses,” said a DMK nominee for Anna Nagar. He added that they also question the entry of any unauthorised persons near the strong rooms.” Interestingly, AIADMK and DMK contestants also pay visits to the counting centres on a daily basis.

Counting centres and constituencies in Chennai and its suburbs

Queen Marry’s College: R K Nagar, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Royapuram, Harbour & Chepauk - Tiruvallikeni

Loyola College: Kolathur, Perambur, Villivakkam, Egmore, Thousand Lights & Anna Nagar

Anna University, Guindy: Virugampakkam, Saidapet, T Nagar, Mylapore & Velachery

Madras Christian College, Tambaram: Sholinganallur, Pallavaram & Tambaram

Sri Ram Polytechnic College, Perumalpattu: Ambattur, Maduravoyal, Madhavaram & Thituvottiyur

Sri Ram Vidhya Mandir Matric. Hr. Sec. School, Perumalpattu : Avadi, Gummidipundi, Ponneri & Poonamallee

Velachery repoll: Just 186 of 548 votes cast

Velachery repoll: Just 186 of 548 votes cast

34 Less Than What Was Recorded On April 6

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.04.2021

Repolling at booth 92 in Velachery constituency concluded in a smooth manner on Saturday. Only 186 of the total 548 votes were polled, accounting for a 34% turnout.

The votes cast were 34 less than the 220 recorded on election day (April 6).

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had ordered repolling at the booth after Greater Chennai Corporation staff were caught carrying two EVMs and a VVPAT machine on a twowheeler after polling hours on April 6. The authorities claimed they were unused machines. A day later, the civic body suspended three staff members including an assistant engineer in connection with the incident. However, since the method adopted for transportation was against standard protocol, a repoll was ordered.

By noon on Saturday, around 90 votes were polled at the all-male booth at Seetharaman Nagar in Velachery. The area was fortified with heavy police presence and voters were not allowed to take their vehicles near the polling booth.

“The number of polling officials and police personnel on duty for the repoll easily outnumbered the number of voters who turned up,” said a corporation official.

Earlier in the day, corporation commissioner, G Prakash, who is also the district election officer, inspected the arrangements at the polling booth.

The last vote was polled around 5 pm and until the end of polling hours, no voter turned up. After the conclusion of polling, the EVM machines were loaded onto a van in the presence of booth agents and then sent to the strong room. The entire process was videographed.

On April 6, when the state went to polls, commotion prevailed at Velachery after polling hours because of the incident and workers of the Congress and DMK thronged the Velachery police station seeking action against the corporation staff, who were initially assumed to be AIADMK workers.

A food delivery agent who noticed the machines being transported on two bikes confronted the riders, after one of the machines fell down on Taramani Main Road in Velachery and the issue soon escalated. Some party cadres also treated the staff to mob justice before police intervened.

UNDER STRICT WATCH: Repolling underway at DAV Public School, Velachery on Saturday

ஓட்டளிக்காத 1.70 கோடி பேர் தேர்தல் கமிஷன் பட்டியல்

ஓட்டளிக்காத 1.70 கோடி பேர் தேர்தல் கமிஷன் பட்டியல்

Added : ஏப் 09, 2021 23:05

சென்னை:தமிழகத்தில் நடந்த சட்டசபை தேர்தலில், 1.70 கோடி பேர் ஓட்டளிக்கவில்லை; அவர்களின் பட்டியலை, தேர்தல் கமிஷன் தயாரித்து உள்ளது.

தமிழக சட்டசபை தேர்தல், 6ம் தேதி நடந்து முடிந்தது. தமிழகத்தில், 3.09 கோடி ஆண்கள்; 3.19 கோடி பெண்கள்; 7,192 மூன்றாம் பாலினத்தவர் என, மொத்தம், 6.28 கோடி வாக்காளர்கள் உள்ளனர். சட்டசபை தேர்தலில், 72.81 சதவீதம் ஓட்டுகள் பதிவாகின. அதாவது, 2.26 கோடி ஆண்கள்; 2.31 கோடி பெண்கள்; 1,419 மூன்றாம் பாலினத்தவர் என, மொத்தம், 4.57 கோடி பேர் ஓட்டளித்தனர். ஒரு கோடியே, 70 லட்சத்து, 93 ஆயிரத்து, 644 பேர் ஓட்டளிக்கவில்லை.

கடந்த, 2016 சட்டசபை தேர்தலில், 74.26 சதவீதம் ஓட்டுகள் பதிவாகின. அப்போது, 4.28 கோடி வாக்காளர்கள் ஓட்டளித்தனர். கடந்த, 2016 தேர்தலை விட, இந்த தேர்தலில், 29.02 லட்சம் வாக்காளர்கள் கூடுதலாக ஓட்டளித்துள்ளனர். இம்முறை வாக்காளர்கள் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரித்ததால், ஓட்டு போட்டவர்கள் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரித்தாலும், ஓட்டுப்பதிவு சதவீதம் குறைவாக உள்ளது. தேர்தலில் ஓட்டு போட்டவர்கள் விபரம் பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதன் வழியே, ஓட்டளிக்காதவர்கள் விபரம், தேர்தல் கமிஷனுக்கு கிடைத்துள்ளது.ஓட்டுப்பதிவு சதவீதம் குறைந்ததற்கான காரணம் குறித்து, தமிழக தலைமை தேர்தல் அதிகாரி சத்யபிரதா சாஹு கூறுகையில், ''ஓட்டுப்பதிவு சதவீதம் குறைவுக்கு காரணம் என, எதையும் கூற முடியாது. பல காரணங்கள் இருக்கலாம். கொரோனா முக்கிய காரணமாக இருக்கலாம் என, நினைக்கிறோம்,'' என்றார்.

மாவட்ட வாரியாக பதிவான ஓட்டுகள் விபரம்: மாவட்டம் - மொத்த வாக்காளர்கள் - ஆண்கள் - பெண்கள் - மூன்றாம் பாலினத்தவர் - பதிவான மொத்த ஓட்டுகள் - ஓட்டுப்பதிவு சதவீதம்

திருவள்ளூர் - 35,11,557 - 12,34,675 - 12,06,426 - 132 - 24,41,233 - 70.64

சென்னை - 40,57,061 - 12,09,458 - 11,89,794 - 129 - 23,99,381 - 59.15

காஞ்சிபுரம் - 13,13,714 - 4,69,318 - 4,64,963 - 8 - 9,34,289 - 72.04

வேலுார் - 12,71,132 - 4,60,104 - 4,80,228 - 43 - 9,40,375 - 74.07

கிருஷ்ணகிரி - 16,05,280 - 6,27,775 - 6,07,294 - 48 - 12,35,117 - 77.40

தர்மபுரி - 12,67,798 - 5,30,938 - 5,14,029 - 55 - 10,45,022 - 82.53

திருவண்ணாமலை - 20,77,440 - 8,14,187 - 8,26,944 - 38 - 16,41,169 - 79.09

விழுப்புரம் - 16,89,095 - 6,64,921 - 6,62,340 - 31 - 13,27,292 - 78.65

சேலம் - 30,15,469 - 12,06,952 - 11,79,915 - 83 - 23,86,950 - 79.15

நாமக்கல் - 14,44,893 - 5,61,508 - 5,94,406 - 58 - 11,55,972 - 80.04

ஈரோடு - 19,63,032 - 7,51,766 - 7,57,888 - 38 - 15,09,692 - 77.07

நீலகிரி - 5,86,950 - 2,02,463 - 2,07,557 - 4 - 4,10,024 - 69.92

கோவை - 30,82,028 - 10,49,395 - 10,55,412 - 125 - 21,04,932 - 68.67

திண்டுக்கல் - 18,77,077 - 7,10,013 - 7,30,379 - 14 - 14,40,406 - 76.83

கரூர் - 8,99,236 - 3,64,626 - 3,90,464 - 14 - 7,55,104 - 83.9

திருச்சி - 23,38,745 - 8,41,318 - 8,78,817 - 67 - 17,20,202 - 73.79

பெரம்பலுார் - 5,76,153 - 2,12,565 - 2,43,053 - 5 - 4,55,623 - 79.13

கடலுார் -21,47,295 - 8,05,534 - 8,42,244 - 75 - 16,47,853 - 76.71

நாகப்பட்டினம் - 13,43,569 - 4,88,619 - 5,20,073 - 8 - 10,08,700 - 75.37

திருவாரூர் - 10,54,618 - 3,86,710 - 4,18,326 - 8 - 8,05,044 - 76.35

தஞ்சாவூர் - 20,61,867 - 7,31,884 - 7,91,725 - 46 - 15,23,655 - 74.10

புதுக்கோட்டை - 13,52,702 - 4,92,184 - 5,37,800 - 20 - 10,30,004 - 76.23

சிவகங்கை - 11,87,115 - 3,81,669 - 4,37,657 - 8 - 8,19,354 - 69.14

மதுரை - 26,97,682 - 9,40,542 - 9,59,009 - 51 - 18,99,602 - 70.33

தேனி - 11,25,638 - 4,00,533 - 4,16,687 - 44 - 8,17,264 - 72.65

விருதுநகர் - 16,70,996 - 5,98,935 - 6,33,199 - 24 - 12,32,158 - 73.81

ராமநாதபுரம் - 11,65,160 - 3,78,551 - 4,32,067 - 7 - 8,10,625 - 69.60

துாத்துக்குடி - 14,87,782 - 5,08,025 - 5,31,505 - 42 - 10,39,572 - 70.20

திருநெல்வேலி - 13,58,148 - 4,40,831 - 4,63,226 - 29 - 9,04,086 - 66.67

கன்னியாகுமரி - 15,71,651 - 5,33,371 - 5,48,582 - 10 - 10,81,963 - 68.72

அரியலுார் - 5,30,983 - 2,12,857 - 2,24,957 - 2 - 4,37,816 - 82.46

திருப்பூர் - 23,59,804 - 8,26,457 - 8,17,217 - 29 - 16,43,703 - 70.27

கள்ளக்குறிச்சி - 11,16,706 - 4,40,186 - 4,54,930 - 11 - 8,95,127 - 80.14

தென்காசி - 13,36,956 - 4,66,526 - 5,04,904 - 6 - 9,71,436 - 72.70

செங்கல்பட்டு - 27,27,528 - 8,88,919 - 8,68,864 - 62 - 17,57,845 - 67.76

திருப்பத்துார் - 9,65,307 - 3,68,315 - 3,73,681 - 27 - 7,42,023 - 76.88

ராணிப்பேட்டை - 10,31,788 - 4,00,506 - 4,05,174 - 18 - 8,05,698 - 77.96

மொத்தம் - 6,28,69,955 - 2,26,03,156 - 2,31,71,736 - 1,419 - 4,57,76,311 - 72.81

பெண்கள் ஓட்டு அதிகம்

தமிழகத்தில் மொத்தம், 6.28 கோடி வாக்காளர்கள் உள்ளனர். ஆண் வாக்காளர்களை விட, 10 லட்சத்து, 15 ஆயிரத்து, 461 பெண் வாக்காளர்கள் அதிகம். ஓட்டு போட்டதிலும், ஆண் வாக்காளர்களை விட, ஐந்து லட்சத்து, 68 ஆயிரத்து, 580 பெண் வாக்காளர்கள் கூடுதலாக ஓட்டளித்து உள்ளனர்.

AIADMK workers maintain low profile

AIADMK workers maintain low profile

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:10.04.2021

AIADMK partymen have been maintaining a low profile, resigned to the long wait for the assembly election results. In the last three days, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami chose to remain mostly indoors in Salem, meeting only a few ministers andcandidates, sources said, adding he was down with acute laryngitis. In an unprecedented move, the party took on the bureaucracy, urging the election commission on Thursday to transfer four senior police officers from the western region, alleging they sided with the opposition DMK during the election.

“The CM is disappointed that grassroot workers did not work as hard as expected in the run-up to the polls. Many functionaries did not campaign like they used to when Amma (J Jayalalithaa) was there. Her presence intimidated many,” said a senior leader. Palaniswami is scheduled to return to Chennai on Saturday evening, after his visit to Theni to condole the death of deputy CM O Panneerselvam’s mother-in-law. Leaders are expected to visit the CM at his Greenways Road residence. Meanwhile, Palaniswami took his second dose of Covid vaccination at the Salem government hospital and urged people to follow Covid norms and the standard operating procedures.

Revenue minister R B Udhayakumar said AIADMK cadres were in an upbeat mood, confident that the party would form a government for the third consecutive term. “It is history repeating itself. In 1977, the DMK went about organising a victory function. But MGR (AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran) won the assembly election that year,” said the minister.

A section in the AIADMK, however, say that the DMK’s anti-BJP narrative in the final stages of the campaign may have influenced the “swinging voters” and the AIADMK leadership failed to counter it effectively.

(With inputs from Padmini Sivarajah)

‘EC to decide on Velachery booth repoll’

‘EC to decide on Velachery booth repoll’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.04.2021

State chief electoral officer Satyabrata on Friday said a report had been sent to the Election Commission of India based on the reports of presiding officer, returning officer and Chennai district election officer on the ‘procedural lapse’ in handling EVMs at a Velachery booth. The ECI will decide on repolling in the booth, Sahoo said.

Two men from a zonal party handling EVMs had taken the ballot units and a control unit, kept in reserve, besides the VVPAT, which had developed a technical snag after 50 minutes of polling, on a twowheeler when they were caught by residents, he said. They were later handed over to police.

Sahoo said: “Transporting the machines on a two-wheeler, also without security guards, is a mistake, It is also against the SOP. The commission has been informed of the lapses.”

ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாகக் கூறி ஏமாற்றிவிட்டனர்: திருச்சியில் தேர்தல் நாளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார்புகார் தெரிவித்த இளைஞர்கள்.

ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாகக் கூறி ஏமாற்றிவிட்டனர்: திருச்சியில் தேர்தல் நாளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார்புகார் தெரிவித்த இளைஞர்கள்.

திருச்சி  09.04.2021

ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாகக் கூறி வருவாய்த் துறையினர் ஏமாற்றிவிட்டனர் என்று, தேர்தல் நாளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார் கூறியுள்ளனர்.

தமிழ்நாடு சட்டப்பேரவைக்கு திருச்சி மாவட்டத்தில் மணப்பாறை, ஸ்ரீரங்கம், திருச்சி மேற்கு, திருச்சி கிழக்கு, திருவெறும்பூர், லால்குடி, மண்ணச்சநல்லூர், முசிறி, துறையூர் (தனி) ஆகிய 9 தொகுதிகள் உள்ளன.

இந்த 9 தொகுதிகளிலும் வாக்காளர்கள் வாக்களிக்க வசதியாக மொத்தம் 1,147 வாக்குப்பதிவு மையங்களில் 3,292 வாக்குச்சாவடிகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன. கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்பு வழிமுறைகளை முழுமையாக பின்பற்றி தேர்தலை நடத்த தேர்தல் ஆணையம் உத்தரவிட்டிருந்தது.

இதன்படி, வாக்களிக்க வரும் வாக்காளர்கள் வாக்குச்சாவடிகளுக்குள் நுழைவதற்கு முன்னதாக கிருமிநாசினி அளித்து கைகளை சுத்தம் செய்ய வைத்து, வாக்காளர்களுக்கு பாலித்தீன் கையுறை, முகக்கவசம் இல்லாமல் வருவோருக்கு முகக்கவசம் அளிக்க அனைத்து வாக்குச்சாவடிகளிலும் ஒரு நாள் கூலி அடிப்படையில் ஆட்கள் நியமிக்கப்பட்டனர்.

இந்தநிலையில், ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாக பணியில் ஈடுபடுத்திவிட்டு, தற்போது ரூ.250 மட்டுமே தர முடியும் என்று ஏமாற்றுவதாக இந்தப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார் கூறினர்.

இது தொடர்பாக, திருவெறும்பூர் தொகுதிக்குட்பட்ட பொன்மலை பகுதி வாக்குச்சாவடி ஒன்றில் கரோனா தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் 20 பேர், இன்று (ஏப். 08) மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகத்தில் புகார் அளித்தனர். பின்னர், அவர்கள் 'இந்து தமிழ் திசை' நாளிதழிடம் கூறுகையில், "தேர்தல் நாளில் வாக்குச்சாவடிகளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட ஆட்கள் தேவைப்படுவதாகவும், தலா ரூ.1,000 வீதம் ஊதியம் தரப்படும் என்றும் பூத் ஸ்லிப் விநியோகித்தவர்கள் மூலம் தெரிய வந்தது.

தொடர்ந்து, தேர்தல் நாளன்று பொன்மலை பகுதி வாக்குச்சாவடி ஒன்றில் 28 பேர் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டோம். எங்களுக்கு யாரும் உணவு தராததால், அதற்கும் செலவழித்தோம். தேர்தல் முடிந்த பிறகு வாக்குச்சாவடி அலுவலர்களுக்கு ஊதியம் அளித்த வருவாய்த் துறையினர், எங்களுக்குத் தரவில்லை.

இது குறித்து, கேட்டபோது ஒருவருக்கு தலா ரூ.250 வீதம் ஒரு வாரத்துக்குள் தரப்படும் என்றனர். ஒரு நாள் முழுவதும் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டு, உணவுக்கும் செலவழித்துள்ள நிலையில், ரூ.250 மட்டுமே தரப்படும் என்பது எங்களை ஏமாற்றும் செயல். கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஆட்களைப் பிடிக்க செய்யப்பட்ட உத்தி. எனவே, மாவட்ட ஆட்சியரிடம் புகார் அளிக்க வந்தோம்" என்றார்.

இதனிடையே, இன்று பிற்பகலில் இளைஞர்களைத் தொடர்பு கொண்டு பேசிய ஒருவர், திருவெறும்பூர் வட்டாட்சியர் அலுவலகத்துக்கு வந்து ரூ.250 வீதம் ஊதியத்தைப் பெற்றுக் கொள்ளுமாறு கூறியுள்ளார். இதனால், கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் அதிருப்தி அடைந்துள்ளனர்.

இது குறித்து அவர்கள் மேலும் கூறும்போது, "தேர்தல் நாளன்று உணவுக்கு செலவழித்துள்ள நிலையில், திருவெறும்பூர் வட்டாட்சியர் அலுவலகத்துக்கு வந்து ரூ.250-ஐ பெற்றுக் கொள்ளச் சொல்வது எந்த வகையிலும் நியாயமில்லை" என்றனர்.

It’s a moment’s pause then back to work for state’s political leaders

It’s a moment’s pause then back to work for state’s political leaders

Team TOI

08.04.2021

A day after polling ended, a photograph of MNM chief Kamal Haasan with film director Lokesh Kanagaraj seated inside an aircraft was circulated with the caption, “Arambikalaangala?’’ (Shall we begin?) suggesting that the shooting of the actor’s next movie was to commence. If Kamal headed to the shooting spot after a daunting month of campaigning in heat and dust, several other political leaders were relaxing on Wednesday. Most of them, however, either ruled out a vacation or said they are yet to decide on one.

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami took a break at his house in Salem on Wednesday. Party functionaries said he preferred not to meet them for a day as he was suffering from a sore throat. “He may not take a vacation. He has no plans to travel for the next few days,” said a party functionary.

DMK partymen said they would unwind for a few days depending on the plans of their party chief M K Stalin. For Stalin, it was back to his normal schedule of going to Anna Arivalayam, his party headquarters, around 10am. “He met party leaders and received their feedback on polling,” said a DMK source. With the Covid spike, Stalin is unlikely to travel abroad, the source added.

Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam was in his home in Bodinayakanur in the morning and later left for Periyakulam. “The deputy CM would visit Chennai in a day or two,” said sources close to him.

AIADMK leaders say they will continue to ‘serve the public’ as they are still ministers and MLAs. “The Covid situation is getting worse. So, it looks like back to routine work for me,” said revenue minister R B Udhayakumar, who was at his office in Madurai meeting party functionaries.

DMK’s PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan who was busy poring over databases to figure out reasons for poor voter turnout in his constituency, said a break was ruled out. “We have to do preparatory work for government formation,” he said.

Tamil Naduu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K S Alagiri spent the day quietly at his village Keerapalayam in Cuddalore district. “I went around our fields and spent time with the family after a long time,” Alagiri told TOI. Alagiri plans to get admitted to a hospital and go for a health overhaul.

It will be a complete rest for PMK founder-leader S Ramadoss and his junior Anbumani Ramadoss until the poll results are announced on May 2. “Both the leaders are with their families at Thailapuram Gardens in Villupuram. There is no specific schedule for the next one month,” said a party spokesperson.

ON TO THE NEXT TASK: The photo tweeted by director Lokesh Kanagaraj on Wednesday indicated that MNM chief and actor Kamal Haasan has begun shoot for his next film. (right) Revenue minister R B Udhayakumar in his office in Madurai

Party workers monitoring strong rooms in for long haul

Party workers monitoring strong rooms in for long haul

Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

08.04.2021

After toiling for more than a month electioneering under scorching sun, Tamil Nadu political party leaders are not about to let their guard down. Counting of votes is 23 days away and the DMK and AIADMK leaders have deputed workers to keep vigil round-the-clock at strong rooms, where EVMs are being guarded.

A small group of trusted functionaries from each political party have been deputed for the crucial post-poll duty. They keep a close watch over the 75 counting centres across the state. A few of the functionaries TOI contacted said their party high command had instructed them to take turns to maintain vigil near the counting centres until May 2 when the votes would be counted.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made elaborate security arrangements. It has deployed armed CRPF personnel in the inner circle (covering the strong rooms) of the three-tier security arrangement, while the TN special police, armed reserve police and local police would be deployed in the outer circle.

“But we don’t want to take any chances,” DMK spokesman Tamilan Prasanna told TOI, recollecting the illegal entry of a tahsildar into a strong room in Madurai after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. “We have deployed a chief agent and a group of functionaries to keep a close watch on the strong room,” said DMK’s Harbour constituency candidate P K Sekar Babu.

“Agents of the political parties, who were given identity cards, will be allowed inside the monitoring room where live feed is screened round-theclock. The footage will be recorded and kept safely until the election results,” said Tirupattur collector M P Sivan Arul.

“We normally keep a watch over the strong rooms during all elections, even at night,’’ said an AIADMK functionary in Coimbatore. Collector S Nagarajan said necessary measures were taken and political party workers need not worry. “The EVMs from all the constituencies were kept inside the strong room and sealed in the presence of cadres from all political parties. They will be opened in their presence only,” he said.

(With inputs from V Mayilvaganan, M K Ananth)

TIGHT VIGIL: CRPF personnel guard a sealed strong room containing EVMs from Trichy west and east constituencies

பூத் சிலிப் விநியோகத்தில் அலட்சியம்: அலுவலர்கள் வழங்காமல் கட்சியினரிடம் ஒப்படைத்ததாக மக்கள் புகார்

பூத் சிலிப் விநியோகத்தில் அலட்சியம்: அலுவலர்கள் வழங்காமல் கட்சியினரிடம் ஒப்படைத்ததாக மக்கள் புகார்வாக்காளர்களுக்கு வழங்கப்படாமல், செங்கல்பட்டு ஜோசப் பள்ளியில் வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த பூத் சிலிப். படம்: 

எம். முத்துகணேஷ்.

செங்கல்பட்டு

பூத் சிலிப் விநியோகிக்கும் அலுவலர்கள், சில இடங்களில் வீடுதோறும் வழங்காமல், கட்சியினரிடம் ஒப்படைத்துள்ளனர். இதனால் பல இடங்களில் வாக்குப்பதிவு தாமதம் ஏற்பட்டது.

தேர்தலில் வாக்குப்பதிவு செய்ய தேர்தல் ஆணையம் சார்பில், வரிசை எண், பாகம் எண் உள்ளிட்ட விவரங்கள் அடங்கிய வாக்காளர் சீட்டு (பூத் சிலிப்) வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இவை ஆசிரியர்கள், அங்கன்வாடி பணியாளர்கள், கிராம உதவியாளர்கள் உள்ளிட்டோர் மூலம் வீடுதோறும் வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இதை பலரும் முறையாக வழங்காமல், அந்தந்த பகுதி கட்சியினரிடம் ஒப்படைத்துள்ளனர்.

செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டத்தில் பெரும்பாலான இடங்களில் வாக்காளர்களுக்கு பூத் சிலிப் வழங்கப்படவில்லை. பூத் சிலிப் இல்லாமல் வாக்களிக்க வந்த பலரின் வரிசை எண், பாகம் எண் உள்ளிட்ட விவரங்கள் தெரியாததால், தாமதத்தை தவிர்க்க பூத் சிலிப் வாங்கி வருமாறு திரும்ப அனுப்பி வைக்கப்பட்டனர். பின்னர் அந்த வாக்காளர்கள் வாக்குச்சாவடிக்கு முன்பிருந்த கிராம நிர்வாக அலுவலக ஊழியர்களிடம் பூத் சிலிப் வாங்கி வந்து வாக்களித்தனர்.

இதுகுறித்து, பொதுமக்கள் சிலர் கூறியதாவது: எந்த கட்சி சின்னத்தையும், வாக்காளர்களிடம் திணிக்கக் கூடாது என்பதற்காகத்தான் தேர்தல் ஆணையம் வாக்காளர் சீட்டை வழங்குகிறது. இதை, வாக்காளர்களிடம் நேரடியாக கொண்டு சேர்க்க பணியாளர்கள் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். ஆனால், அவர்கள் அரசியல் கட்சினரிடம் மொத்தமாக ஒப்படைத்து விடுகின்றனர். கட்சியினர், இந்த வாக்காளர் சீட்டை கொடுத்து வாக்கு சேகரிக்கின்றனர். பலர் குறிப்பிட்ட இடங்களில் அமர்ந்துகொண்டு வாக்காளர்களை வந்து பெற்றுச்செல்ல அறிவுறுத்துகின்றனர். தேர்தல் ஆணையம், இனி வரும் காலங்களில் முறையாக அனைத்து வீடுகளுக்கும் வாக்காளர் சீட்டை கொண்டு சேர்க்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

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.