Underground drainage project to be expedited says M.C.Sampath

CUDDALORE: 

         Rural Industries Minister M.C.Sampath told presspersons here on Sunday that steps would be taken for the speedy implementation of all government schemes. As regards Cuddalore constituency, the works on the underground drainage project would be expedited and all pending projects would be completed in a time-bound manner.

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Cuddalore gets first woman Minister in Selvi Ramajayam

CUDDALORE: 

        Cuddalore district has got its first woman Minister in Selvi of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. She has been elected for the second consecutive term from the Bhuvanagiri Assembly constituency.

        She polled 87,413 votes and defeated her close rival T.Arivuselvan of the Pattali Makkal Katchi who obtained 74,296 votes. Ms Selvi had a chance entry into politics after her husband Ramajayam, AIADMK union secretary at Parangipettai, was murdered by “Othakkai Pandian,” a liquor peddler. Ms Selvi's rise in the political hierarchy has been slow but steady. She is also a member of the AIADMK executive committee and the organiser of the district women's wing of the party. She twice held the Parangipettai Town Panchayat Chairperson post.

         During the campaign it was her refrain that since she belonged to the opposition party she did not get adequate support from the ruling DMK, and this was the reason for the continued backwardness of her constituency. She claimed that she utilised the MLA Local Area Development Funds for construction of buildings for the anganwadis and improving the basic amenities. It is the expectations of the Bhuvanagiri residents that as she has now got a ministerial berth with Social Welfare portfolio, she would take all out measures for the development of the constituency.

         The sanguine factor about the outcome of the Assembly elections is that the neighbouring Chidambaram Assembly constituency has returned K.Balakrishnan of the CPI(M), an ally of the AIADMK front, and this factor would ensure the development of the contiguous areas in a pronounced manner. The residents hope that Ms Selvi would energise as well as activate all the welfare boards and make available the due benefits to the members.

Two Ministers

         The Cuddalore district has also the credit of having two Ministers at the same time in the Cabinet. M.C.Sampath, who has become the Rural Industry Minister, has had experience as the Local Administration Minister in the previous AIADMK regime. However, his career had a bumpy ride because his portfolio was changed midway and due to inner-party wrangles he lost the party district secretary post. C.Ve.Shanmugham of the AIADMK, who got elected from the Villupuram Assembly constituency by defeating the former Higher Education Minister K.Ponmudy has got the School Education portfolio now.

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Tight security at counting centres

 

ROUND-THE-CLOCK VIGIL:Collector P. Seetharaman inspecting the counting centre in Periyar Government Arts College in Cuddalore on Wednesday.

CUDDALORE: 

          For the purpose of providing foolproof security to the counting centres, three zones have been earmarked, namely inner perimeter, middle perimeter and outer perimeter, according to P. Seetharaman, Collector and District Electoral Officer.

          He made this observation to The Hindu after inspecting the security arrangements along with Superintendent of Police Ashwin Kotnis at Periyar Government Arts College, serving as the counting centre for four Assembly constituencies such as Cuddalore, Panruti, Neyveli and Kurinjipadi, on Wednesday.

           The Collector said that the inner perimeter was the zone where the electronic voting machines were kept in strongrooms and guarded by the armed personnel of the Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) and the Tamil Nadu Special Police (TSP) Force. One laptop each had been placed in front of every strongroom, in which the EVMs from a particular Assembly constituency were kept, to monitor round the clock the activities through web camera.

            Mr. Seetharaman said that all those entering the inner perimeter, including himself, the SP and election observers, would affix their signature and time of entry and exit in a register. In the middle perimeter, TSP personnel had been stationed and also representatives of the candidates of various political parties. The watchtowers too had been erected in this zone and armed guards posted. In the outer perimeter, that is, outside the campus, local police personnel had been deployed. Mr. Seetharaman said that no procession or meeting would be allowed within one-km radius of the counting centres.

                Uninterrupted power supply and flood-light arrangements too had been made in each of the centres. Striking force personnel and fire service personnel too had been kept ready, he added.

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Candidates' representatives maintain round-the-clock vigil on strongroom

CUDDALORE: 

            The counting centres in Cuddalore district have not only been brought under the constant vigil of security personnel but also under the watchful eyes of the representatives of the candidates in fray.

          Armed with photo identity cards attested by the Returning Officer, they are taking turns at the counting centres on 12-hour shifts: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. They are not allowed to exchange shifts. A place on the campus has been earmarked for them and they are allowed to go to the strongroom once a day after signing the register.

       They have voluntarily taken up the assignment to see to it that the EVMs, carrying the verdict of the people are well guarded. For D. Ravichandran, a representative of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam candidate for Cuddalore Assembly constituency, M.C. Sampath, the task is not new. He had undertaken the job in the 2006 Assembly elections and 2009 Lok Sabha elections. However, there is a vast difference this time round; the counting is a month after polling. Mr Ravichandran told The Hindu that the party high command had directed the representatives to turn up at the counting centre every day. Other party workers should remain vigilant outside the campus.

            G. Kannadhasan, a representative of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate for Cuddalore Assembly constituency E. Pughazhendi, said that regardless of the party affiliation the representatives mingled with each other. M. Navaneethakrishnan, a representative of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam candidate for Panruti Assembly constituency, P. Sivakolundu, said that he was working in the interest of his party. The task was neither tiresome nor boring. Besides representatives of recognised and registered parties, those of Independents too have willingly taken up the responsibility.

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The valuable message that ‘zero currency' puts into circulation

Note of propaganda:Driving home the message through currency note in Cuddalore.

CUDDALORE: 

            The ‘zero currency' has made a mark in Cuddalore even while the officials and police have been grappling with the problem of curbing illegal money circulation and capturing the surreptitious operators who are bent upon bribing the voters.

           Designed on the model of the Rs.50 currency note, but bigger in dimension and laminated, the ‘zero currency' mocks at the practice of bribing the voters. On the obverse side it carries the figure of smiling Mahatma Gandhi and the wordings “Eliminate corruption at all levels” and “I promise to neither accept nor give bribe.”

             On the reverse side it carries the wordings “Encourage, enable and empower every citizen of India to eliminate corruption at all levels. There is also a disclaimer that “it is not a currency note.” The ‘zero currency' notes are being put into circulation by members of the 5th Pillar, a non-governmental organisation, and that of the Makkal Sakthi Katchi (Lok Satta) of M.S. Udayamoorthy. They state that bribery is a form of corruption punishable with either suspension or jail term or both. The canker of corruption has permeated into all spheres and has eaten into the very vortex of the political, social and economic systems. Therefore, the onus is on the people to eradicate the malaise that has of late assumed menacing proportions.

          They suggest handing over of the ‘zero currency' to those who demand bribe and if done so they will get the message straight that they are in for trouble, because the officialdom is fully aware that the handlers of zero currency have got the backing of an organisation.

Shadow government

            T.E. Chitrakala, State coordinator of the “Student against corruption and also the Makkal Sakthi Katchi candidate for the Cuddalore Assembly constituency, told The Hindu that she was carrying the message to the students, from the SSLC to the college level, that corruption could be eliminated if they so desired.

They should concentrate on bringing about a change in politics that would suit the new generation and take the country on the trajectory of growth.

Ms. Chitrakala further said that her party had fielded 35 candidates, including five women, in 18 districts in Tamil Nadu. After the elections they would form a “shadow government” to keep a vigil on the new government and take up the people's cause with vigour.

She said that the members of the 5th Pillar and the Makkal Sakthi Katchi would not be deterred by the play of money power in the elections or in any other departments. They were sure that the ‘zero currency' concept had caught up with the people and instilled in them the courage to act. Therefore, Ms. Chitrakala foresees a gradual but a positive change among the people for electing the leaders imbued with honesty and integrity.

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DMK suspends sitting Cuddalore MLA Mr. Aiyappan

CUDDALORE: 

       With hardly four days to go for the Assembly elections, the suspension of sitting Cuddalore MLA G.Aiyappan by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam high command for alleged anti-party activities has come as a shock to party cadres.

       The rank and file of the party fear the winning chances of DMK candidate Ela. Pughazhendi will be affected. Veterans and moderates within the party express the view that differences should have been either sorted out or kept under wraps at least till the polling day before which nothing cataclysmic would have happened. The AIADMK camp is gleeful over the turn of events as the party feels that it is a godsend opportunity for it to expose the façade of unity within the ruling party. If the rift is so wide open, how could there be solidarity among the DMK allies, they ask.

          When contacted, Mr. Aiyappan said that it was the price he had to pay for his unflinching loyalty to M. Karuananidhi and his party and untiring services rendered to the people.

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EVMs kept poll-ready in Cuddalore

Cuddalore Collector P.Seetharaman verifying electronic voting machines in Cuddalore on Tuesday.

CUDDALORE:

    Electronic Voting Machines for the Cuddalore and Chidambaram constituencies were made poll-ready on Tuesday by inserting ballot papers carrying names and symbols of the candidates, in the machines.

         The exercise was carried out under the guidance of a technician from Bharat Electronics Ltd., in the presence of Election Observer D.S. Dhok Rajurkar, District Election Officer P. Seetharaman, and, candidates and their agents. The functionality of the EVMs were verified and the Returning Officer affixed his signature on the rear of the ballot papers.

       After the task was completed, the EVMs were sealed for safe custody. Similar measures would be adopted for other constituencies on Wednesday. Later, Mr. Rajurkar and Mr. Seetharaman reviewed the security arrangements at the places where the EVMs would be secured and counting centres.

Dry run to be held today

          Mr Seetharaman told reporters that for the first time, a “dry run” would be conducted at Cuddalore, Panruti, Kurinjipadi, Chidambaram, Neyveli, Thittakudi, Vriddhachalam and Bhuvanagiri on Wednesday. For each of the Assembly segment, a company of Central Para Military Forces led by a sectoral officer and micro-observers would carry out a mock exercise of how to safely transport the EVMs the day prior to and after polling.

          Mr. Seetharaman further said that micro-observers, mostly employees of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation and banks, would be imparted training on the NLC Training Complex on April 8. On April 10, the microwave towers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. would be checked for load capacity and readiness of the polling stations would be checked.

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Video programme to create awareness among voters

CUDDALORE: 

         A video programme on creating awareness among voters about the value of vote and importance of exercising their franchise will be screened all over the district till April 11.

         The screening of the programme, approved by the Election Commission, will be organised at bus stands, market places and cinema halls and also be beamed through the local cable television channels, according to a statement from Pon.Muthiah, Public Relations Officer.

The schedule is as follows: 

March 30 – Nellikuppam, Melpattambakkam and Andipalayam; 

March 31 – Thorapadi, Karumbur and Paithambadi; 

April 1 – Panruti and Thiruvadigai; 

April 2 – Kurinjipadi, Kullanchavadi and Vadalur;

April 3 – B.Mutlur, Puduchathiram and Parangipettai; 

April 4 – Mel Bhuvanagiri, Krishnapuram and Sethiathope; 

April 5 – Keerapalayam, Vandi Gate, Chidambaram and Annamalai Nagar.

April 6 – Kumaratchi, Vallambadugai, Chiddambaram and Usuppur; 

April 7 – Kattumannarkoil, Lalpet and Manalmedu; 

April 8 – Khammapuram, Seplanatham, Mandarakuppam and Gangaikondan.

April 9 – Vriddhachalam, Vijayamanagaram and Mangalampettai; 

April 10 – Nallur, Thittakudi, Seppakkam and Pennadam; 

April 11 – Mangalore, Ramanatham, Tholudur and Veperi Cross Roads.

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General Observers arrive in Cuddalore

CUDDALORE: 

         Five general observers in Cuddalore district arrived and started their work on Saturday, according to P. Seetharaman, Collector and District Election Officer.

In a statement here, he gave the contact numbers of the observers: 

Thittakudi and Vriddhachalam - Dharam Veer, Pennadam Sugarmill Guest House - contact numbers 75987 00260 and 04142-222237; 

Neyveli and Panruti - T.T.Antony, Neyveli Guest House Room No. 203 - 75987 00261 and 04142-252222; 

Cuddalore and Kurinjipadi - D.S. Dhok Rajurkar, Circuit House new building Room No.2 - cell No. 75987 00262 and 04142-230355; 

Bhuvanagiri and Chidambaram - Shalini Mishra, Chidambaram PWD Inspection Bungalow - 75987 00263 and 04144-238108; 

Kattumannarkoil - Ramesh Krishnan, Neyveli Guset House Room No.205-75987 00264 and 04142-252222.

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Expenditure observer arrives in Cuddalore

CUDDALORE: 

          The Election Commission has deputed G.M. Kamei as the expenditure observer for the forthcoming Assembly elections in the five constituencies of Cuddalore, Kurinjipadi, Bhuvanagiri, Chidambaram and Kattumannarkoil.

         District Election Officer P. Seetharaman received him at the camp office and gave an overview of the Assembly segments in the district. Mr. Kamei is from the Indian Customs and Central Excise Services Department, Nagaland. He would keep a watch on the election expenses of candidates and political parties in the above mentioned Assembly constituencies.

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