Dy Mayor plea to EC

Chennai, Mar 26 (UNI) Missing Chennai Corporation Deputy Mayor 'Karate' R Thiagarajan has appealed to the Election Commission (EC) to direct the state law and order authorities to provide him and his family with sufficient security.

In a letter to EC, a copy of which was made available to the press here today, Mr Thiagarajan also appealed to the EC to carry out an investigation into the alleged attempts to prosecute him 'illegally' after his expulsion from the AIADMK in October 2005.

The Deputy Mayor claimed he was threatened and his family intimidated by hoodlums employed by some political rivals. He had to be away from the city due to personal reasons and during this time, his family members were also threatened and his phones were tapped.

All his friends were kept under constant surveillance by the state intelligence authorities, he alleged.

Mainwhile, Following his wife's plea, Madras High Court directed the authorities to provide round-the-clock police protection to his family.

He claimed a special police party was still attempting to arrest him without any valid reasons or case with a simple reason of tarnishing his political image under the instigation of his rivals.

Since he was presently out of Chennai and intend to return in due course, he apprehended his political rivals might try to harm his political career besides endangering his life.

Certain AIADMK party leaders, who were inimical to him could attempt to foist cases on him at this stage to stop him contesting or canvassing during the elections, he said.

As a statutory body under the Constitution, and as a citizen and a political leader, I look upon the EC as the only authority to ensure free and fair elections, he added UNI RV SK KP1150