TIRUCHI
Filing of nomination papers for the second phase of polls for the primary cooperative societies in the district came to an end on Saturday amidst sit-in protests and agitations in various cooperative societies against “alleged discrepancies and irregularities.”
Nominations were accepted for 147 cooperative societies that will go to polls on April 7 in the second phase of cooperative elections. Of them, 66 cooperative societies were primary agricultural cooperative credit societies. Nominations were accepted for employees' credit societies, housing societies, weavers societies, fishermen welfare societies and milk societies.
Aspirants, accompanied by their supporters, belonging to various political parities, including the AIADMK and the DMK, had assembled in front of the cooperative societies even before the commencement of nomination at 11 a.m.
According to officials sources, about 2,000 candidates have filed nomination papers for the posts of directors in various cooperative bodies. About 800 candidates have presented papers for 66 cooperative societies controlled by Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies.
Though there were no untoward incidents in any parts of the district, cooperative members belonging to Opposition parties, including the DMK, the Congress, the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (M), and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, staged sit-in protests in various cooperative societies, protesting against the non-acceptance of nomination papers. In some places, they entered into heated arguments with the officials for refusing to accept nomination papers.
The DMK and alliance parties staged a protest inside the office of Uyyakondan Thirumalai Cooperative Society. The day-long protest that began around 11 a.m. continued up to 5 p.m. They alleged that the society officials were not accepting their nomination papers. Similar protests were held in Poovalur, Lalgudi, Nachikurichi and other places.
In a novel protest, the DMK men, who accused the cooperative officials for colluding with the ruling AIADMK to black out the chances of opposition parties, presented a memorandum to a cow at Abishegapuram in Lalgudi.
Upset over the refusal of nomination papers, S. Chandrasekar of Cholanganallur, one of the aspirants for director post, lodged a complaint with the Somarasampettai police station that he could not submit nomination papers as the election officer concerned was not present to receive papers.
P. Kadirvel, DMK Andhanallur union secretary, who was among those staged sit-in protest, said that the aspirants had waited for more than six hours between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. for filing of nomination papers for Nachikurichi society. But, no official was present to receive nomination. Hence, he had sent formal complaints to all senior cooperative officials. The affected persons would take up the issue with the High Court for remedy, he said.
K.C. Ravichandran, Joint Registrar of Cooperatives, Tiruchi, who is also the District Election Observer, told The Hindu that there were no untoward incidents anywhere in the district and filing of nominations was peaceful.
Scrutiny of nomination papers would be carried out on Sunday. Monday would be the last day of withdrawal. Wherever required, elections would be held on April 6.
