The Hindu : Thanikodi assumes office

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 19, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Thanikodi assumes office

By Our Staff Reporter

Madurai April 18 .Thanikodi, today assumed office as president of the Pappapatti reserved panchayat. The Assistant Returning Officer, S. G. Ram Manohar Lohia, administered the oath of office to Mr. Thanikodi, who trounced the DPI-sponsored candidate, Subban, in the recent poll. A team of officials, including the Returning Officer, P. V. Parthasarathy, the Chellampatti Panchayat Union BDO, Beer Ahmed Ibrahim, and others reached the village early in the morning for the swearing-in. Mr. Thanikodi, assumed office after offering prayers at the village temple.

Elections for Pappapatti and neighbouring Keeripatti panchayats could not be held since 1996 as villagers, mostly Piramalai Kallars, refused to participate in the exercise, demanding `dereservation.'

But the DPI sprang a surprise, fielding candidates for both Pappapatti and Keeripatti in the recent polls.

Hence to counter the move, the villagers fielded Dalit candidates of their choice, who ultimately won.

The founder-president of the All-India Moovender Munnetra Kazhagam, N. Sethuraman, congratulated the new president.

He asked him to concentrate on the development works of the panchayat.

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Thanikodi assumes office