Chennai Corpn Polls: Ruling DMK MLA held in TN

Chennai, Nov 3 (UNI) In a surprising development, police today arrested Mr V S Babu, an MLA of the ruling DMK, in connection with the violent incidents in the October 13 Chennai Corporation elections.

The arrest comes a day after the Communist Party of India (Marxist), an ally of the DMK, announced a state-wide stir on November six, demanding the arrest of the legislator and action against the State Election Commission Officials and police for their 'failure' to conduct the elections in a free and fair manner.

Police initiated action against the MLA, representing Purasaiwalkam Assembly Constituency, on a complaint from Ms Devi, the CPI(M) candidate for a ward in the city.

In her complaint, Ms Devi alleged the DMK legislator along with some hired professional criminals had assaulted her and other frontline partymen and indulged in booth capturing.

Police also arrested DMK functionary Chinnadurai in connection with the complaint.

Cases have been registered against them under various sections of the IPC.

Later, a local court remanded them in judicial custody, police said.

The CPI(M), a constituent of the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance, had contested on its own from at least eight wards in the city in the absence of a seat-sharing pact with the DMK.

The party was affected by the violent incidents in the Corporation polls in all the wards.

Demanding repoll and arrest of those involved in the violence, the party had organised a protest demonstration here on October 26.

The DMK leadership had initiated moves for patch-up, but the Left party would not budge.

After more than a fortnight after the incident, the CPI(M) State Executive, which met here yesterday, decided to renew its demand for arrest of Mr Babu and called for a state-wide agitation on November six leading to the arrest of the ruling party MLA.

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