Chennai

June 2 2002

The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu today wrested Acharapakkam and Vaniyambadi seats, by-polls for which were held on May 31, taking its strength in the 234- member Assembly to 134.

In Acharapakkam AIADMK candidate A Boovarahamurthy defeated his nearest PMK rival D Parvendhan by a margin of 17,917 votes, the state election office announced. In Vaniyambadi, party candidate Vadivelu defeated Hanifa of the DMK by 19,721 votes.

Probe begins

Two officers, appointed by the Election Commission to enquire into the complaints of rigging at Saidapet constituency today commenced their work.

The IAS officers, J S Burjia and Santoshkumar, would file their report to the Election Commission directly, which would decide about the next course of action, Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil Nadu, Mrutunjay Sarangi told reporters here today.

Drama for Delhi rule... AIADMK

Chennai

June 1 2002

Minister, O. Paneerselvam, today said the DMK was falsely accusing the AIADMK of having indulged in bogus voting in the Saidapet Assembly constituency, to prepare the ground for imposition of President's rule in Tamil Nadu.

Countering the DMK's charge of electoral malpractices against the ruling partymen, Mr. Paneerselvam, who led the AIADMK campaign team in the constituency, asserted that the polling was peaceful and fair.

The DMK president M. Karunanidhi, had been expressing apprehensions of violence ever since the byelections were announced for, he was well aware that his party would be routed in the constituency.

Refuting the DMK's charge that ruling partymen cast bogus votes using incomplete community certificates and fake ration cards, Mr. Paneerselvam wondered why its agents had not lodged any complaint with the presiding officers in any of the booths.

``When Mr. Karunanidhi himself claims that they are bogus community certificates, how does he say they were issued at the Mambalam-Guindy tahsildar office?''

Realising that his party would be unable to retain Saidapet, Mr. Karunanidhi had been spreading lies and calumny.

``Like in the past, Mr.Karunanidhi, aided by his nephew, Murasoli Maran in Delhi, is trying to enact a drama for imposition of President's rule.'' However, the people of Tamil Nadu would not lend an ear to a false campaign and they continue to stand behind ``Puratchi Thalaivi Amma'', asserted Mr. Paneerselvam.

Jain is ED of Indian Oil south

chennai

May 31 2002

T L Jain has taken over as the executive director of Indian Oil (southern region) comprising of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala and the Union territories of Pondicherry and Lakshadweep.

According to an IOC press release here today, Jain will also be the regional-level coordinator for the entire oil industry in the southern region.

Jain, who was heading the finance group of Indian Oil in its marketing headquarters prior to this posting, has taken over from R V Krishnamurthy, who has superannuated, the release added.

75% pass in SSLC exam in Pondicherry

Pondicherry

May 31 2002

A pass percentage of 75.10 was registered in the SSLC examination results of which were announced on Thursday in the Union Territory of Pondicherry, according to Education Minister K Lakshminarayanan.

Addressing a press conference here last night, he said last year it was 74.96 per cent.

There was a slight decrease in the pass percentage in government schools. It was 86.54 per cent in government schools last year, compared to 86.48 per cent this year.

In private schools also, the pass percentage was 95.36 per cent compared to 96.23 per cent last year.

The Minister said while the Gandhinagar Government School registered cent per cent pass, the Government High School at Suthikeni registered 27.27 per cent, the lowest pass percentage.

Bhanupriya, studying in a private school here, scored 489 marks out of 500 and bagged the state first position.