Peaceful polling barring minor incidents

Madurai, May 8 (UNI) Polling in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu today concluded peacefully, barring minor incidents of violence and widespread complaints of Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs) playing truant at many places.

The DMK candidate in Andipatti, B Seeman, taking on Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, was assaulted by irate AIADMK supporters as well as angry voters, for obstructing polling at Rajendra Nagar near Kandamanur.

A CPI(M) cadre was brutally attacked by a group of ruling partymen at suburban Avaniapuram, falling under the Thiruparankundram constituency, where both the parties had locked horns.

The Marxist worker, Kamaraj Pandian (12), who had challenged AIADMK men canvassing for votes near a polling booth, was assaulted by a local AIADMK group. He was rushed to the Government Rajaji Hospital in a serious condition.

EVMs failing to function properly were reported from many places, resulting in a delay in the commencement of polling.

The AIADMK functionaries distributing cash to voters near Melur were caught and handed over to the police, who also seized the three vehicles used by them.

There were also instances of the security personnel seizing vehicles of both the AIADMK and DMK used to transport voters near Vadipatti in Sholavandan constituency. Autorickshaws were employed in large numbers to ferry voters instead of vans and other four wheelers.

Political parties, including the fledgling Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam(DMDK) of filmstar Vijayakant, had resorted to this ingenious method to ward off punitive action from the Election Commission.

Polling officials, given training in Tamil, found it extremely difficult to comprehend the materials handed over in English. This was witnessed in many polling booths in the city itself.

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