Saturday’s by-poll off passed peacefully with no incidents of violence reported in the R.K. Nagar Assembly constituency. However, minor tussles took place in Tondiarpet and adjoining areas following the visit of independent candidate K.R. Ramaswamy alias ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy.
An argument broke out between AIADMK cadre, including local councillor Anju Lakshmi and Mr. Ramaswamy, after the latter visited election booth number 49 on Seniamman Koil Street, Tondiarpet. The latter objected to the presence of a group of ruling party cadre close to the voting area. Following this, a minor tussle broke out and the independent candidate told mediapersons that his supporters were assaulted by the woman councillor and her men, who also damaged his car.
Similar scenes unfolded at Thiruvalluvar Nagar near the Tondiarpet market when Mr. Ramaswamy reached there to check on the polling process. He captured the security arrangements on his camera and complained to the media about rampant bogus voting in some booths. Government Children’s Home for Boys in Royapuram witnessed a scuffle between AIADMK cadre and police personnel as a group barged into the polling station.
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The incident took place around 3.15 p.m. as the men attempted to get closer to a booth housing the electronic voting device.
‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy objected to the presence of a group of ruling party cadre close to the voting area