TN Govt announces annulment of coop polls

Chennai, July 11 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government today announced the annulment of elections so far held to all cooperative societies following complaints of ''irregularities''.

Expressing concern over some undesirable acts that had taken place during the conduct of the elections, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, in a statement here, said the Government would come out with a fresh schedule after consulting the leaders of legislative parties.

''Elections so far held to all cooperative bodies are annuled and the fresh date will be announced after an all party meeting,'' the Chief Minister said.

The Government decision comes a day after the Communist Party of India (Marxist) organised a massive agitation throughout the State, demanding annulment of the elections and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa describing them as a ''massive fraud.'' The opposition AIADMK and its ally, the MDMK had boycotted the elections after the Government failed to concede their demand for recruiting fresh members.

Mr Karunanidhi said the DMK Government wanted to conduct the elections to fulfil the promise made in the election manifesto, but in a bid to capture power, some undesirable acts have taken place, defeating the very purpose of holding the elections.

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