Oppn parties unite in protest against electoral malpractice by Ponnusamy

CHENNAI, NOV 17: In a significant show of opposition unity, the Tamil Maanila Congress, the Congress (I) and the AIADMK today joined hand...

CHENNAI, NOV 17: In a significant show of opposition unity, the Tamil Maanila Congress, the Congress (I) and the AIADMK today joined hands for the first time in three years to protest against alleged electoral irregularities in Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency from where Union Minister of State for Petroleum E Ponnusamy was elected.

Volunteers of the Opposition parties took out an impressive procession from the Panagal park to the CIT colony in the city. Later, leaders of various parties, led by Dalit Panthers of India convener and unsuccessful candidate in Chidambaram, Thirumavalavan, submitted a memorandum to State Governor Justice M Fathima Beevi, urging her to declare Ponnusamy’s election as irregular as he had exercised his franchise in the constituency without being a voter there.

The agitators said Dalit voters were not allowed to cast their ballots in the constituency, which witnessed violence during and after the polling.

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The memorandum also condemned the Government ban on Dalit leaders visiting Chidambaram.

Addressing the gathering before the start of the procession, party leaders said Ponnusamy should be dismissed from the Union Cabinet and jailed for the electoral malpractice.

The other parties which took part in the procession included the two Communist parties, the Janata Dal (Secular), Indian National League, Republican Party of India, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam and Dalit Panthers.

While the TMC had earlier turned down an invitation from the AIADMK to join an Opposition protest against the hike in diesel price, saying the issue needed wider consultation, the two parties found it convenient to join the DPI-organised agitation today.

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The Congress, which is an ally of the AIADMK, also joined the procession.

Addressing the gathering, Thirumavalavan said the coming together of political parties should pave the way for preventing a split in the Opposition votes. The only Opposition party that was conspicuous by its absence was the Pudhiya Thamizhagam led by Dr K Krishnasamy.

Dr Krishnasamy said that he had extended moral support to the protest but decided not to participate in the procession as the AIADMK, which had called his party a violent outfit, was participating in it.