AIADMK protests Jayakumar’s arrest, EPS leads stir in Salem

With the end of the urban local body polls, Palaniswami said there are indications that property tax may increase by 200 per cent and electricity bills by 40 per cent.  Only then people will realise the real face of DMK, he added.

“DMK did not win in a democratic manner, but through votes cast by rowdies. Despite pressing any button on the EVM, the votes had gone for DMK. Also the DMK gave Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 for each vote and gift items. The AIADMK would have won, if the polls were held in a democratic manner,” he said, while spearheading a demonstration in Salem to condemn the arrest of AIADMK leader D Jayakumar.

Alleging that police have given protection to a man, who was caught by Jayakumar, while casting bogus vote in Chennai, Palaniswami said, “ahead of polls, the DGP and Chennai city Police Commissioner informed that action would be taken against anti-social elements to ensure the conduct of elections in a free and fair manner. If so, why Naresh, who is facing 12 cases, including chain snatching and two-wheeler thefts, was not arrested in advance to prevent such incidents?” “The DMK will disappear if it tries to destroy the AIADMK, which ruled the state for 30 years. We will face the cases legally,” he said.

Claiming that more than 13 per cent of votes polled in Chennai and Coimbatore were bogus, the Opposition leader said Chennai polled up to 68 per cent during the last Assembly polls, but got only 43 per cent in urban local body polls as people did not turn up to vote out of fear.

BJP leaders join in Chennai

In Chennai, BJP leaders and cadres also joined the AIADMK cadre extending their support for the state wide demonstration.

Meanwhile, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam visited him at the Puzhal prison along with his party colleagues and said, “He (Jayakumar) is fine and he is ready to face any situation.” In Tiruchy former minister Vellamandi N Natarajan said, “One nation, one election concept will be declared at anytime and the people of Tamil Nadu should be ready for another assembly election in which the DMK would be thrown out.” In Tiruvannamalai an AIADMK cadre Balakrishnan (61) who contested unsuccessfully in the town’s ward 19 attempted to immolate himself at the agitation.