Chennai Corpn repoll begins on dull note

Chennai, Feb 18 (UNI) Polling for 67 wards of the Chennai Corporation began here at 0700 hrs this morning on a dull note with not even a single voter turning up in some booths till 0830 hrs, according to official sources.

The sources said about 15,94,653 voters were expected to cast their votes in 1,534 polling booths.

The repoll became necessary following the split verdict by a Division Bench of Madras High Court on a writ petition filed by the Opposition AIADMK demanding repoll for all 155 wards of the Corporation following incidents of violence, booth capturing impersonisation and other malpractices during polling on October 13 last year.

Mr Justice P K Misra, to whom the case was referred for final judgement, ruled fresh polls could be held to the 98 wards of the Chennai City Corporation.

The main contestants were the ruling DMK, Desiya Dravida Murpokku Kazhgam (DMDK), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and CPI (M).

Thirty-three councillors were elected unopposed.

Though there would not be any problem during today's repoll as the main opposition AIADMK and its allies are not participating, the police was not taking any chances and made elaborate arrangments to ensure there were no untoward incidents.

UNI