Choice of nominees, dissidence big woes

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

CHENNAI, OCT. 1. The last day of nominations for the local bodies polls witnessed a flurry of last-minute activity, as many sitting members and ``sure''but spurned aspirants filed papers as independents.

Though the final figures were not yet available, State Election Commission sources said about four lakh candidates had filed their nominations.

Most parties faced the problem of identifying candidates for the local wards, particularly at the panchayat level, while in urban areas, it was a problem of dissidence.

The DMK president, Mr.M.Karunanidhi, advised restraint to the cadres and said it was natural to feel upset and frustrated when an aspirant was not nominated. ``This is but natural,'' he said, but reminded them that it was more important to work for the victory of the party and the alliance, which they had taken so much pains to build up.

Heading the `disappointed list' in the DMK were the Chennai Deputy Mayor, Ms.Jayachandravadana, and the senior councillor, Mr.R.S.Sreedhar. In fact, the number of councillors renominated in the city was just over 20, indicating a marked shift in preference of the party. The idea seems to be to retain the core and those who excelled in their work as grassroots level workers. This has been the DMK pattern in most parts of the State, which is confirmed by the renomination of some chairmen, including the advocate from Alandur, Mr.R.S.Bharathi.

Confusion and disappointment over allotment of seats and choice of candidates continued in the TMC camp even on the last day of filing nominations, even as one of its district secretaries quit his post in a huff.

The north Chennai district president, Mr.M.Jothi resigned, in protest against non-locals being given ticket in his area. After a heated discussion with the TMC president, Mr.G.K.Vasan, he said he would not continue in his post when his supporters were not given due respect.

In the morning, the TMC headquarters here was a scene of slogan- shouting for a while, as some partymen alleged that a ward at Nungambakkam allotted to the TMC was ``gifted away'' by a party senior to an AIADMK functionary.

Predictably, the choice of candidates caused heartburns among the party functionaries in the city as at least 20 councillors were not renominated.

In the Pallikaranai town panchayat near the City, the official candidate, Mr. ``League'' Mohan, was said to have been prevented by the partymen at least thrice from filing nominations, until he sought police protection this morning.

For, the AIADMK had not only reduced the TMC's share of seats to 25 per cent from the 36 per cent it contested in alliance with the DMK in 1996 but also deprived the party of several sitting seats.

And, in some of the districts, even the promised 25 per cent did not come its way. In Coimbatore, Chengalpattu, Erode and Salem districts the party was allotted just about 20 per cent of the corporation and municipality wards.

But in Kanyakumari district, where the AIADMK is not traditionally strong, and with the CPI (M) and the Congress, which wield considerable influence in the region, quitting the alliance, the TMC has been given as much as 40 per cent of the seats.

Many parties asked ticket-seekers to file their nomination today, hoping to make the final choice ahead of the October 5 deadline for withdrawals.

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