Farm labourer held for taking bribe for vote

In a first, farm labourer held for taking money for vote in TN

Shanmughasundaram J | TNN | May 13, 2016, 12.15 AM IST

Vellore: In the first-ever action taken against a voter for receiving money from candidates or their representatives in the state, a farm labourer was arrested in Katpadi on Thursday for receiving Rs 1,000 allegedly from some DMK functionaries.
 

By the time a flying squad swung into action, the party functionaries managed to escape, but the beneficiary, I Munusamy of Melkattur village in Katpadi, was arrested. He was later released on bail. 

On Wednesday, Vellore collector Rajendra Ratnoo had warned that not only those who distribute money, but even those who receive money for casting votes would be arrested and remanded.
 

Surprisingly, there aren't many reports of arrests from other districts in the state.

Chief electoral officer Rajesh Lakhoni said his office had sought reports from all district election officers on the measures taken so far to curb money distribution. 

Chief Election Commissioner Nazim Zaidi told TOI, "Hundreds of additional flying squads with central police force personnel are being pressed into service for the next four nights. The relentless efforts of the ECI will continue".

Meanwhile, the EC officials seized some campaign material of AIADMK candidate 'Mafoi' Pandiarajan with currencies stuffed inside it in Avadi constituency on Thursday.

Four AIADMK functionaries were arrested from K V Kuppam area in Vellore while they were bribing voters. EC officials seized 7,500 from them.

Based on a tip-off, authorities raided the house of Vaniyambadi AIADMK candidate Nilofer Kafeel and seized Rs 14.08 lakh, which was hidden under a sofa. Income Tax officials have started an inquiry against Kafeel. 

In a similar raid conducted at a DMK functionary's house in Anaicut, Rs 7.59 lakh was seized. "It was the third major seizure of money from political party leaders in the district," said Ratnoo, adding that cases would be filed against Kafeel and the DMK functionary. Disciplinary action would be initiated against government employees who receive cash for votes, he said.

Murugesan, an AIADMK municipal councillor in Ranipet constituency was arrested with Rs 1 lakh while trying to bribe voters. In Cheyyar constituency in Tiruvannamalai district, eight people - five AIADMK cadres, two DMK cadres and a Congress man - were arrested for distributing money. The officials seized Rs 1.83 lakh from them.

Meanwhile, the PMK candidate contesting from Cuddalore constituency, Pazha Thamaraikannan, and his supporters staged a protest at Cuddalore collectorate demanding stringent action to prevent money distribution. They spotted a gang distributing money and seized the cash from them, but the gang managed to escape. 

The candidate and his supporters took the money to the collectorate and staged a protest there displaying the seized money. Police detained them when they refused to give up the stir.

Vijay's admirers asked to back DMK by fan club chief

May 06 2016 : The Times of India (Chennai) Vijay's admirers asked to  back DMK by fan club  chief Shanmugasundaram J   Supported AIADMK in '11, But His Films Ran Into Trouble Later When elections are here, die hard fans of actors Rajinikanth and Vijay anxiously  wait to see if their icons come out with their stand.This time, `Illayathalapathy' Vijay  might not have declared his stand openly , but his fan clubs across the state have  received oral instructions from the state president to extend their support to the DMK.  In the 2014 election, his fans are said to have beefed up BJP's numbers following the  actor's diktat.Vijay and his father S A Chandrasekar supported the AIADMK in 2011 election at  a time when the film fraternity was alleging that Karunanidhi's family was trying to dominate the industry . But, in the last five years, many of his movies like `Puli', `Thalaiva' and `Thuppakki' ran into rough weather. Income tax officials conducted  a surprise check at Vijay's residence before the release of `Puli', in which the actor  takes on a queen possessed by an evil spirit to free the people of the kingdom. Vijay fans say the actor and his father felt slighted by the AIADMK. Given the multi-cornered fight in the upcoming elections, the support of the fans clubs that often stretch across the state can influence the outcome. “We have been  asked to vote for the DMK in the assembly election. We received communication from  state president Anand. Similar messages have been communicated to the registered  fan clubs across the state,“ said a district-level functionary of Vijay fans clubs in Vellore. Vellore District Vijay Fans Clubs president Velmurugan met DMK Vellore central district secretary and Anaicut candidate A P Nandhakumar on Wednesday. They  extended their  support to the party in the assembly election. “We along  with our family will vote for the DMK, but we will abstain  from campaigning,“ said one of Vijay's fans. Of the young voters in the age group of 18 to 35, 3% can be considered hardcore fans  of Vijay, said Sairam, a social media expert.“If Vijay gives an open statement, the fans  will vote for the party that he announces,“ he continued.By making his decision  informally , the `Theri' hero may have wanted to play it safe, just in case the poll  outcome went against his wishes, he said.

AIADMK say 'No' people over 50 yrs

May 03 2016 : The Times of India (Chennai)

Over 50? AIADMK won't let you attend meetings

Shanmughasundaram J





Attacked by opposition parties for the deaths of five people at Jayalalithaa's rallies, AIADMK has said people over 50 should not attend their public meetings. On Monday, the National Human Rights Commission sought a report on the deaths, reportedly due to exposure to the sun, from the police and chief secretary within two weeks.The party has sent instructions to all district-level organisers to stop bringing elderly people for election campaign meetings. For the upcoming meeting on May 10 at Vedal village near Arakkonam, for instance, party leaders expressly told organisers not to bus senior citizens in to swell the audience.

“We have also been instructed to provide food and water to people coming to the campaign meeting. We have been strictly told not to assemble the cadres at the venue before 3 pm. Amma (as party chief Jayalalithaa is known) is scheduled to arrive at the venue between 5pm and 5.30pm,“ said an AIADMK member in-charge of organising the programme. The AIADMK has issued these instructions after five people died while waiting for Jayalalithaa in the sun at public meetings in Cuddalore, Virudhunagar and Salem districts. Several others suffered heat-related illnesses.
The DMK and the PMK took immediately took up the issue and sought the intervention of NHRC. They alleged that the AIAMDK transported thousands of people to the meeting venue and forced them to wait in the scorching heat for several hours. They were neither provided with drinking water nor allowed to move out of the venue to use toilets, they said. “The opposition is trying to take advantage of these incidents. We believe our leader took the decision to negate the opponent's charges,“ said another party member in Vellore.





political parties ropes in children for election campaigns

May 03 2016 : The Times of India (Chennai) They cost less, demand no liquor, and  their nimble hands pass on pamphlets  shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com   Though Violation Of Model Code, Kids Are Used In Campaign Throwing the Election Commission's warnings to the wind, many political  parties have been eng aging children in campaigning in Vellore.For political parties and their campaign managers, the energetic young boys  are a whole package. They distribute pamphlets, and whistle and dance to the  tunes of songs to keep the campaigns lively. They are also not as demanding  as the party cadres and adults, and therefore considered cost-effective campaign tools. “The young boys are a vital cog to propel the final phase of the election campaign. They enjoy every bit of the action and never complain like the adults (party cadres). They easily draw the attention of the public,“ said a campaign manager. Campaign managers say that some children volunteer to take part while a few accompany their relatives. “I had come with my uncle,“ said Naveen, who  is under 12 years, waving the BJP's saffron flag. He was spotted campaigning with a group of boys aged between 14 and 16 years at Palar Garden, a residential area oppo site the district police office in Sathuvachari. For many boys hailing from poor  families, it is a win-win situation.  They  enjoy the school holidays  by going around the city with their  friends, travel in  autos, and distribute pamphlets in the residential areas and to  passers by. At the  end of the fun-filled day, they will get between `75 and `150,  apart from lunch and soft drinks. “I came with my friends in twowheelers in a rally with party flags. Though it was a hot day and tiring, I enjoyed it. It is a jolly trip for us. We have also got `100 each,“ said a boy, aged about 14.His friends seconded what he  had to say. These boys came along with PMK cadres on Friday when the party's candidate was filing his nomination papers. A campaign manager said they have to pay between `200 and `300 and provide biriyani for lunch for the cadres coming for the campaign. Many demand liquor at the end of the day. “Young boys are less of a hassle. They cost only one third,“ he said. When questioned whether having children is a violation of the model code of  conduct, he tersely replied that they did not compel them (young boys) to come  for the campaign.