Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers M.K. Alagiri on Tuesday complained that the State Election Commission (SEC) was acting in favour of the ruling party. He said he did not believe that the local body election in the State would be conducted in a free and fair manner.
Talking to reporters here after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) candidate, P. Packianathan, filed his nomination for the post of Madurai Mayor, Mr. Alagiri said his party had complained many times to the SEC about the wall writings by the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
No action
“(The officials) have promised to look into it, but nothing has happened. (If no action is taken), we will also draw (our party symbol),” he said.
Mr. Alagiri complained that the AIADMK leaders and cadre had violated the poll code by crowding at the chamber of Madurai Corporation Commissioner, S. Natarajan, when their party candidate, V.V. Rajan Chellappa, filed his nomination on Monday.
Poll code violation
“It is reported in newspapers. Today, only the permitted five persons of our party have come here to file nomination,” he added.
Earlier, Mr. Alagiri asked media persons to leave the Returning Officer's chamber after they had taken photographs of Mr. Packianathan filing his nomination papers.
“I want to talk to the Commissioner, you people please leave (the hall),” he said.
The Corporation Commissioner quickly intervened and said, “Let them be here. We can discuss things later.”
After the formalities of filing papers were over, Mr. Alagiri raked up the issue of wall writings by the ruling party and the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam in the city.
Mr. Natarajan said that the Corporation officials had begun erasing the graffiti.
“The writings are there everywhere near the railway station, Setupathi School and Simmakkal. If you do not erase them, we will do it,” the Union Minister said before leaving the chamber.
The DMK candidate was also accompanied by party leader, Pon Muthuramalingam and the two party district secretaries, G. Thalapathi and P. Moorthi.
