Phase 2 TN civic polls begin amid tight security

Chennai, Oct 15: The second phase of elections to local bodies in Tamil Nadu to elect 63,202 representatives began in the state this morning under a thick blanket of security.

The polling was by and large peaceful barring a few minor incidents, official sources told UNI.

Tiruchirapalli and Madurai Corporations, 57 municipalities, 27 Grade three municipalities, 280 town panchayats and 190 village panchayats come under the second phase.

A record number of about one lakh police personnel, including 20 companies drawn from the neighbouring states, have been deployed on security duty to ensure free and fair polls.

The services of about 20,000 ex-servicemen, 20,000 NSS volunteers, 500 forest personnel, 1,100 fire servicemen, 9,000 Home Guards and 2,000 retired police personnel have aso been deplyed on election duty.

Besides around 1,600 personnel of the special units of Tamil Nadu Police are also involved in providing security.

The sources said Kalidas, an independent candidate for the suburban Pallikarani Village Panchayat President's post, gatecrashed into two polling booths with a 50-strong mob and took away 1,400 ballot papers and other poll materials late last night.

On information, police and officials rushed to the spot and replaced the ballot papers.

Police has formed a special party to nab the culprits.

In Chennai City, repolling was on in 17 booths amid tight security where violence had disrupted polling during the first phase of polls on October 13.

In a statement here, AIADMK Supremo and Former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today announced that her party would boycott the repoll in all the 17 booths in the city.

She said the party has demanded fresh elections for Chennai Corporation with the help of army personnel. As the demand was not accepted, the party was boycotting the repoll in the city. However, it would take part in the phase two elections in other parts of the state.

The CPI (M) also staged a boycott of the repoll in the 17 polling booths.

A report from Madurai said polling commenced on a brisk note this morning with voters queueing up at the polling centres to exercise their franchise. Notable among the village panchayats going to the poll are the four reserved village panchayats -- Pappapatti, Keeripatti, Nattarmangalam in the District and Kottakachiyendal in Viridhunagar District -- which had earned notoriety by remaining headless either due to electoral boycotts or resignation of elected candidates ensured by the dominant castes demanding de-reservation.

While in Keeripatti and Kottakachiyendal candidates have been declared elected unopposed to the office of village panchayat president on scrutiny itself, at Pappapatti and Nattarmangalam polling is underway.

A report from Tiruchirapalli said polling was brisk and peaceful.

The District Administration is under high alert to ensure incident free elections.

Official sources said no untoward incident had been reported so far from any part of the district.

UNI

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