First phase of TN civic polls begins

Chennai: Moderate polling was witnessed in the first phase of local body elections which began on Friday morning amidst tight security in Tamil Nadu.

Polling was brisk in rural areas and dull in urban areas, including Chennai, when it commenced at 7 hrs (IST), official sources said. "Overall the polling was progressing at a moderate level," they said.

As many as 67,760 posts are at stake in Friday's polling, with majority of them in rural areas.

Voting is being held in Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem and Tirunelveli Corporations, 45 municipalities, 23 third grade municipalities and 281 town panchayats.

Among those who exercised their franchise included Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, Union Ministers Dayanidhi Maran and G K Vasan, State Local Administration Minister M K Stalin, DMK leader K Anbazhagan, CPI leader R Nallakannu and BJP leader L Ganesan.

Talking to reporters after casting his vote, Karunanidhi said the chances of the DMK-led DPA was "very bright".

Voter turnout was dull in majority of polling booths in the state capital. There were booths where no voters turned up to exercise franchise at the commencement of polling.

AIADMK alleges large-scale rigging

The opposition AIADMK in Tamil Nadu alleged large-scale rigging in the civic polls and said the party was moving the Madras High Court to declare it "null and void".

AIADMK MP and legal advisor N Jyothi said that "in almost in all the booths, DMK men rigged the polls".

The elections are not conducted in a fair and free manner as the State Election Commissioner was "hand in glove" with DMK men, he alleged.

The results of the "fake elections" would not truly represent the wishes of the people and the party would demand for a stay of counting, he said.

Charging the IAS and IPS officers deputed for the civic poll duty with irresponsible behaviour and dereliction of duty, he said the party would approach the Centre seeking action against them.

DMDK alleges rigging in civic polls

DMDK leader and film actor Vijaykanth today lodged a complaint at the police commissioner's office here alleging wide-spread rigging in the Chennai Corporation polls.

Talking to reporters after lodging his complaint, Vijaykanth said that the DMK-led DPA alliance had "captured" most of the booths in the city.

DMK men, with the support of their allies, the Congress and the Left parties, had indulged in "large-scale bogus voting and rowdyism," he said in his complaint.

A lot of "rowdies" had been released on parole a few days before the civic polls, he claimed, and charged the DMK with using them for unleashing violence during the polls.

He requested the Police Commissioner, Lethika Saran, to order an inquiry into the incidents and bring the culprits to book.

The Election Commission should order a re-election, where in the army would be engaged in poll duty, he said.