TNCC Chief fails to vote in Corpn repoll

Chennai, Feb 18 (UNI) Leaders of various political parties in Tamil Nadu particularly alliance partners of the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Front were surprised that Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President M Krishnasamy did not turn up for voting for today's Chennai Corporation repoll.

The Congress and DMK volunteers, who were waiting for Mr Krishnasamy at a polling booth in a corporation school at Mylapore in the city, were disappointed as a result.

Sources close to Mr Kuppan, the DMK candidate of the 142 ward, under which the polling booth came, said DMK President and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had accepted the Madras High Court's split verdict and directed his party and alliance partner councillors to step down for repoll.

However, other DPA leaders, including Senior Congress Leader and Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G K Vasan, excercised their franchise and fulfilled democratic duty.

The sources though only how Mr Krishnasamy could keep away from the polling which, they claimed, was tantamount to boycott.

Though Mr Krishnasamy justified his absence saying he was away from the city, the sources said both Mr Krishnasamy and Mr Vasan attended a Congress public meeting at Erode along with AICC Observer and Tamil Nadu Party Affairs In-charge Veerappa Moily last night.

While Mr Vasan came to the city and voted promptly, Mr Krishnasamy proceeded to Nagercoil to inaugurate the State Youth Congress Padayatra scheduled for tomorrow.

In fact, Mr Vasan would also participate in the inaugural function of padayatra, they added.

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