The Hindu : Front Page : Election observers seize saris from houses of DMK men in Madurai

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 07, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Election observers seize saris from houses of DMK men in Madurai

S. Sundar

— Photo: G. Moorthy

FIRM ACTION: Election Observers checking a house in Jaihindpuram following complaints of free distribution of saris by the DMK in Madurai on Wednesday.

MADURAI: Special Election Observer for Madurai Lok Sabha constituency Madangopal seized six bundles of saris from two houses in Jaihindpuram, reportedly meant for free distribution to voters, in Madurai on Wednesday.

Mr. Madangopal, along with another Observer, M. Matthew Jolly, handed over the seized materials to the Jaihindpuram police.

A former Corporation councillor of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Murugan, said his partymen alerted the police and the Observers on receiving information about distribution of saris at Meenambigaipuram.

“The police chased away scores of women who were waiting for their turn to get the saris from the ruling partymen,” he said.

Later, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam men locked the factory in which the saris were kept.

The Observer who arrived at the scene found the bundles and some of the saris kept in plastic covers ready for distribution.

The Observers, accompanied by Assistant Collector (Training) K. Veeraraghava Rao, went to Netaji Nagar and seized more bundles from a house belonging to another ruling party worker.

The DMK men had told the Observers that the saris were stocked for distribution after the elections in connection with the birthday celebration of DMK south zone organising secretary and the Madurai Lok Sabha constituency candidate M.K. Azhagiri.

CPI (M) Politburo member Brinda Karat told reporters here on Wednesday that the Madurai constituency had become an example of complete subversion of electoral and democratic process. Muscle power, money power and misuse of State machinery were evident in the constituency, she said.

Ms. Brinda urged the Election Commission to deploy paramilitary forces in those booths identified as sensitive in the constituency.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page