AIADMK to boycott repoll

Chennai, Oct 19 (UNI) AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa today said her party would boycott tomorrow's repoll in 27 booths and counting of votes polled in the October 13 election for Chennai Corporation.

In a statement here, she alleged the ruling DMK let loose violence and atrocity in the local body polls in Tamil Nadu and made the election a 'mockery.' 'This is a murder of democracy. Such atrocities have happened all over Tamil Nadu,' she alleged.

The DMK had enacted a drama in conducting the civic polls by misusing the government machinery, threatening officials and letting loose violence with the help of hooligans, she charged and added that particularly in Chennai, people were not allowed inside polling booths to cast their votes.

The ballot boxes were stuffed by DMK-hired loodluns and in some polling stations, 110 per cent votes had been registered, which was unprecedent in Indian election history, the AIADMK supremo added.

Stating that the election was held without the participation of the public, Ms Jayalalithaa said though the AIADMK moved Madras High Court seeking repoll in all 155 wards in the Chennai Corporation, the court ordered repoll in only 27 polling booths of the total 3,295.

'The AIADMK moved the Supreme Court against the High Court order.

But, we did not get justice,' she said.

Ms Jayalalithaa said party candidates, functionaries and cadre fell victim to violence during elections and were undergoing treatment in hospitals.

Instead of achieving victory through unjustified means, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi could have nominated candidates for posts in consultation with his family members, she added.

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