BJP petitions TN Governor on Chennai Corpn re-poll

Chennai, Oct 16 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu today petitioned Governor Surjit Singh Barnala to take steps for re-poll in Chennai Corporation in view of large scale violence and booth capturing that marred the elections on Friday last.

A party delegation, led by BJP State President L Ganesan, met Mr Barnala at the Raj Bhavan and handed over the petition to him.

Earlier, addressing a press conference here, Mr Ganesan described the election as ''undemocratic'' and said the BJP would file a writ petition before Madras High Court seeking a repoll in Chennai Corporation and praying for a stay on counting of votes.

He said the fresh polls should be held under the supervision of court-appointed observers. Electronic voting machines should be used and para military forces deployed for the smooth conduct of the elections.

Mr Ganesan claimed the ruling DMK resorted to booth capturing using goondas as it had received prior information through intelligence agencies that the party could not win the Chennai Corporation polls.

He also demanded the Centre to enact a legislation to check defections of elected members and prevent irregularities in local body elections.

On delimitation, he urged the Tamil Nadu Government to extend cooperation to the delimitation panel and make its recommendations to it after consulting all political parties in the state.

Welcoming suggestions that each Parliamentary constituency should be made a district, he said the government should not form any new districts, including the recently-announced Ariyalur, until a consensus was evolved on the issue.

UNI AKN SP HT1455