CHENNAI: If the polling for the RK Nagar by-elections is held on Wednesday, TTV Dhinakaran would record the highest percentage of votes — 35.5 per cent — found People Studies, a multi-disciplinary research institute.
Releasing the survey to media persons, professor S Rajanayakam and his associates said that the survey found that the Dhinakaran's pressure cooker symbol has already become more popular among the voters than the other symbols — Two Leaves and Rising Sun. While 91.6 per cent of the participants correctly identified the pressure cooker as the symbol of Dhinakaran, the Two Leaves and E Madhusudanan combine is known among 81.1 per cent of participants, found the study. Similarly, the Rising Sun and Maruthu Ganesh is known among 77.8 per cent of participants. The survey gives second place to DMK candidate N Maruthu Ganesh and AIADMK candidate E Madhusudanan third place. Traffic along Anna Salai was affected nearly six years ago when the construction began. Even after the final metro tunnel breakthrough between Saidapet and DMS this week, Chennaiites have to bear the brunt of traffic snarls on arterial Anna Salai, coming year too.
Metro rail officials are now working on subways to connect stations and this would mean motorists heading towards Nandanam through Anna Salai would continue to take a roundabout on the one-way for at least four months more. “The station construction would be completed within three months and till then, there would be no change in traffic diversions. Vehicles going from Binny Road to Sathyam Theatre will continue to go through Pattulos Road and Whites Road,” said an official from Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL). Traffic along Anna Salai was affected nearly six years ago when the construction began. Ambulance drivers say they are the most affected due to the diversions that take at least 20 minutes longer to reach the destination in peak hours. “Around five hospitals are located in the area and it also connects three major government hospitals. Like others, ours is not a profession where risk can be avoided by starting a bit earlier. Negligence and delay by CMRL might come down heavily on people's lives,” said K. Murali, an ambulance driver. On the other hand, metro rail workers finished work on all the underground tunnels and the officials say the stretches from Nehru Park to Chennai Central and St. Thomas Mount to AG-DMS would begin operations in March 2018 and the whole line from DMS-Washermenpet would be operational by December 2018. “All worksites in Anna Salai will be cleared in three months and the roads would be back to normal in four months. The other areas that were made one way for construction will be made two-way by November, next year,” an official said. Sources said that GCC and Southern Railway decided to equally share the cost of reconstruction after the latter refused to fund the whole project. The delay in the renovation of the rail overbridge (ROB) at Elephant gate in North Chennai, due to a cash crunch and lack of coordination between the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and Southern Railway, has crippled the vehicular movement causing heavy traffic snarls in old Washermenpet, Tondiarpet, Central and Pallavan Road.
Sources said that GCC and Southern Railway decided to equally share the cost of reconstruction after the latter refused to fund the whole project. However, officials say that they are unable to bear the cost of land acquisition. “The work was commenced in April and since then, motorists and auto drivers have been struggling as only alternative route available to reach the nearby suburbs is 4 km longer,” said Uma Maheshwari, an auto driver. Moreover, the workmen have left iron rods and other construction materials in the middle of the bridge, posing a risk of accidents. M. Gunasekran, a motorist plying on the road said, instead of making traffic diversions, authorities must hasten the pending construction work of the bridge and restart the traffic flow. Vehicles take 15 to 20 minutes to cross the bridge in peak hours, which can worsen if it continues at the same pace. Lately, the officials have stopped heavy vehicles from entering the bridge. “Wall Tax Road serves as a connecting stretch to North Chennai, but the restriction of heavy vehicles, including lorry, trucks, and buses from entering the stretch has put us into hardship. Even four wheelers are blocked,” rued one of the lorry drivers in the area. A few sources have also said that the bridge might be closed for traffic soon, meaning nearby areas like Poonamallee High Road, Wall Tax Road, Pallavan Salai, Rajah Muthiah Salai, Perambur Barracks Road, and Pulianthope High Road would soon choke. In the FIR, Rajasekaran said that the movie was allegedly sold in DVDs and in the website which came as a big hit to the producers of the movie. Chennai: The Crime Branch-CID of Tamil Nadu police has registered an FIR against piracy websites Tamilrockers and Tamildbox based on a complaint by an office bearer of the Tamil Film Producers council.
According to sources, the makers of the movie, 'Ippadai Vellum'starring Udhayanidhi Stalin approached the police after the movie was released online. Rajasekaran N from the Tamil film producers council lodged a complaint against the website almost a month later the movie ‘Ippadai Vellum’ was released. In the FIR, Rajasekaran said that the movie was allegedly sold in DVDs and in the website which came as a big hit to the producers of the movie. Vishal did not consult anyone and jumped into politics and that’s why the heat is on him now, says an industry insider. Chennai: Action hero Vishal appears to have landed himself in a tight spot with multiple challengers faulting him for choosing to contest the RK Nagar Assembly bypoll and demanding that he give up the leadership of the Nadigar Sangam as well as the Producers Council as the punishment for his ‘misdemeanor’.
The charge against Vishal is that he chose to contest the bypoll and made all those robust proclamations against the ruling party and the government without consulting colleagues either in the Nadigar Sangam or the Producers Council. It would amount to conflict of interest and besides, hurt the interests of both the premier bodies in filmdom that need the government’s support and cannot antagonise the rulers—the producers get subsidy from the government, which also has the power to fix ticket prices and taxes. Though he is putting up a brave face and pretending to be on firm ground, insiders say that heat is building up for Vishal even as he is trying hard to hold on to his positions. Declaring he would not succumb to such pressure from 'vengeful elements prompted by vested interests', he demanded proof from the antagonists charging him with financial irregularities in the Producers Council, to which he had been elected president barely six months ago. The general body meeting of the Producers Council met here on Monday to discuss a whole range of important issues-such as the problems of small producers, the suicide of co-producer Ashok Kumar, satellite rights and the perennial piracy tyranny-but got quickly aborted amid chaos as Cheran launched an attack on Vishal and demanded his resignation. Vishal wound up the meeting and left, complaining that members used inappropriate language against him. Adding heat to his crisis, close friend and actor-director Pon Vannan announced his resignation as vice-president protesting against Vishal's decision to contest in RK Nagar. "The meeting ended abruptly amid ruckus after Vishal refused to answer questions saying they could wait and we must deal with the agenda only. Many members questioned the office-bearers why Vishal chose to contest RK Nagar byelection, but Vishal was not willing to discuss this", said senior member Rajan. While his aides insist that the rebellion is inspired by the ruling party chieftains, Vishal himself says he is unwilling to make such a charge. "I do not see any connection between what is happening within our film fraternity and my RK Nagar contest. There are some minor issues and I am sorting them out. Pon Vannan has agreed to withdraw his resignation" - Vishal "The four of us top office-bearers in the Nadigar Sangam-Vishal, Nasser, Karthi and I-had taken a vow right in the beginning not to get involved in politics. Vishal violated this code and I was unable to answer the several questions from our members. That's why I decided to resign", Pon Vannan said, when contacted for his version. After ascertaining again with list sent by ECI it was found by DMK that about 1,788 bogus voters still remain untouched. Chennai: The Madras high court has reserved orders on a memo filed by the DMK party alleging that the Election Commission of India has not deleted 5,117 bogus voters from the voters list in R.K.Nagar assembly constituency.
Originally, on a petition filed by DMK Organisation secretary R.S. Bharathi to purify the voters list in R.K.Nagar, the First Bench headed by Chief Justice Indira Banerjee directed the ECI to conduct the bypoll to RK Nagar assembly constituency by December 31, after recording the submissions of ECI that the names of 45,819 voters had been deleted. However, alleging that 5,117 bogus voters were yet to be deleted from the voters list, Senior Counsel P. Wilson, appearing for Bharathi had on December 6 made a mention before the First Bench to re-open the case and filed a memo to that effect. When the case came up for hearing on Monday before a division bench comprising Justices T.S. Sivagnanam and K.Ravichandrabaabu, senior counsel Wilson submitted that the ECI was giving premium to illegality. When the ECI itself has acknowledged that 45,819 bogus voters were on the rolls and undertook to delete them before the court, they have actually not deleted the multiple and bogus voters. After the rolls were uploaded in the website on November 23, it was found that about 5,117 bogus and multiple entries remain on the rolls and that a representation was given to the CEO. Thereafter, the ECI acknowledged 2,220 and 1947 multiple entries through a separate communication and undertook to include them in ASD list. After ascertaining again with list sent by ECI it was found by DMK that about 1,788 bogus voters still remain untouched. Therefore, all bogus voters should be prevented from voting and a seal across their names should be put in the electoral roll and circulated to political parties so as to prevent these bogus voters from voting. Niranjan Rajagopal, counsel for ECI submitted that 1,947 multiple entries exist in the uploaded list by ECI and the same will be placed in the ASD list. There were about 2,220 more multiple entries which will be kept in ASD list. The high court has no power to interfere in the electoral process due to Article 329 (b) of the Constitution and that if any bogus voters cast their vote, the only remedy was to file an election petition and the high court has no power to interfere under Article 226 of the Constitution when once the election process was started. The ECI has taken all appropriate steps to conduct the bypoll in a fair and transparent manner, he added. After hearing both sides, the bench reserved its order. ADDRESSING THE MEDIA AFTER THE MEETING, VISHAL DENIED CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS AND CLAIMED THAT DURING THE MEETING, SOME PEOPLE TRIED TO HIT HIM. There was more trouble in store for actor-producer Vishal who seems to be having a long and horrible week. After his nomination papers for the RK Nagar bye-poll were rejected earlier this week, the president of the TN Producers’ Council faced allegations of corruption on Sunday by several members of the council.
Actor and AIADMK member JK Rithesh said, “Radhakrishnan, who earlier held working posts in the producer’s council, told us that when he was part of the team, the council had Rs 7 crore. Now, the council only has Rs 2 crore – so where is the rest of the money?” “It has been eight months since Vishal promised that he will give the details in the next general body meeting,” Rithesh added. Addressing the media after the meeting, Vishal denied corruption allegations and claimed that during the meeting, some people tried to hit him. “Some people are stopping good things from happening. They came and tried to take away the mike and hit us. This is unnecessary. Everyone has the right to ask questions but the way they did it was wrong. I would like to thank the police for helping us, the judge came and observed everything, we also have footage for everything,” said Vishal. Speaking about the corruption allegations, he said, “If we swindled Rs 7 crore, we cannot carry out such an annual general meeting. Every week they tell the press that there has been corruption. Instead, they should come to the office and speak to us. They need to have proof, only then will we respond to them,” he said. The meeting also saw producers opposing Vishal’s move to stand for the RK Nagar election. “According to the bye-laws, anyone who holds an office cannot stand for the elections without resigning their post. He did, so we objected to it and questioned him. But he refused to give a reply, and that’s why this problem started,” Rithesh said. “There was a strong objection to Vishal’s actions, but his team cleverly started singing ‘Jana Gana Mana’ when people started speaking up, in order to finish the meeting,” said actor and BJP politician S Ve Shekar. 80 per cent of govt busses may not run on December 13, 14. Chennai: Nearly 80 per cent of the 22,000 government run buses in the state might stay off roads this Thursday and Friday as about 12 major unions, mostly affiliated to the opposition DMK and Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) unions are planning on a sitting agitation outside all major transport offices in the state.
“We demand that the transport department clear our dues which nearly amount to Rs 7,543 crore. As many as 1,43,000 transport workers from unions like Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) and Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) would take part in the protest on December 14 and 15,” said K.Natarajan, treasurer, LPF. He added that the retirement benefits of nearly Rs 1,600 crore has not been cleared yet and provident fund and LIC money to be paid to the organisations concerned is due, although the amount is being deducted from employees’ salaries, every month. The workers rued that they are unable to make claims in necessary situations as the organisations say the transport department has not paid them the amount for over three months. A similar protest was planned by the unions in May this year, ahead of Pongal when the department officials have cleared Rs 1,250 crore due and said the rest of the amount would be dispatched soon. The delay in clearing the dues has once again riled the unions. On the other hand, the transport department is sustaining a loss of nearly Rs 8 crore per day and the court had recently said it is in a process of liquidation. The election officials have also earmarked 19 locations for accommodating police personnel and paramilitary personnel. Chennai: Public and builders planning to visit the corporation zone offices for building assessment and other trade licences would do well to wait until December 24 for revenue officials to return from RK Nagar poll duty. As part of its election work, the city corporation has, for the first time, posted all its revenue officials in Chennai to RK Nagar. “Each assistant revenue official (ARO) has been given 15 polling booths to supervise. Earlier a team of licence surveyors and tax collectors, who are subordinates to AROs, were deployed for the purpose, but now seniors are deployed to ensure that a fool proof polling system is in place”, an ARO said. One of the election officials said that a total of 300 EVMs have been kept in the strong room after verification by senior poll officials for the 256 polling booths.
For each control unit, 4 ballot units would be attached. In all, 1,200 ballot units are to be used and the role of ARO starts from supervising the polling stations and to ensure free fair and fair polls on December 21, the official said. The EVMs would be checked and verified again in front of the poll observers and the functions of polling machines would be explained to representatives of candidates before transporting them to polling booths. Meanwhile, the election department has finished training 1,800 staff, including presiding officers and booth level officers. “Nearly 3,000 officials are being employed in conducting the by-election”, the official said. To ensure peaceful and fair election, the election department, apart from cameras and web screening in polling booths, has installed nearly 300 CCTV cameras in important junctions and streets, an all time high for an assembly constituency. The election officials have also earmarked 19 locations for accommodating police personnel and paramilitary personnel. “Nearly 1,500 local police and 20 companies of paramilitary companies, each consisting of 80 to 100 personnel will be deployed in RK Nagar. The paramilitary forces started arriving in the constituency”, the official added. Saravanan further said that MLA Bose approaching the Apex court only raised more doubts about the authenticity of Jayalalithaa's thumb impression. Madurai: Raising suspicion over Thiruparankundram AIADMK MLA, Mr AK Bose having approached the Supreme court and getting a stay order in the former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa thumb impression case, Dr P Saravanan, the DMK candidate, who lost to the former in the Assembly bypoll, said that he would decide his next course of action after consulting his party leader.
The Apex court had stayed by eight weeks the Madras High Court exercise to ascertain the authenticity of Jayalalithaa's left thumb impression found on AIADMK candidate AK Bose's nomination papers. Saravanan who contested against the AIADMK in the Thiruparankundram bypoll filed the case in the High court questioning the authenticity of Ms. Jayalalithaa's thumb impression, stating that she had been hospitalised and unconscious while the fingerprints were taken. "Prison officials of the Parappana Agrahara prison who appeared before the Madras HC and submitted a soft copy of Jayalalithaa's thumb impression obtained through biometric scanner when she was lodged in that jail," Saravanan told reporters here on Saturday. He further said that MLA Bose approaching the Apex court only raised more doubts about the authenticity of Jayalalithaa's thumb impression. |
follow our updatesCategories
All
|