Dalit-elect 'flees' village with family

Madurai, Oct 15: Instead of basking in victory, earned even before a votes could be cast, the president-elect of Keeripatti Village Panchayat has deserted the village along with his family.

His house remains locked as fear stalks the Dalit colony of the nondescript village in backward Usilampatti region.

M Balchamy (35) was declared elected as the nominations of two other Dalits, 'sponsored' by dominant caste Hindus, were rejected on scrutiny. As usual, he was provided with police security from the day of filing papers. It is widely perceived that he was propped up by the administration to counter the familiar game of elected candidates resigning under coercion.

Interestingly, the post of president is reserved for Dalits but none had occupied it for a decade as is the case with nearby Pappapatti and Nattarmangalam and Kottakachiyendal in Virudhunagar District.

They remain headless because of either a poll boycott or immediate resignation of elected candidates, ensured by the dominant castes demanding de-reservation.

Non-dalits who spoke to this correspondent viewed Mr Balchamy's act as open defiance. Annoyed at it for upsetting the apple cart, Mr K P Devarajan (52) charged the administration with being 'dictatorial.' There is near unanimity among them the administration was keeping the president-elect under safe custody. But, he would have to come here for assuming office, said Palani (33) and others.

According to police, deployment of armed reserve personnel in the area was only temporary.

UNI