Chennai, March 4 (BPNS)
The Cuddalore corporation Mayor election witnessed some tense moments for the DMK with the party’s official candidate R. Sundari challenged by a rebel candidate. However the cadre party’s writ prevailed and Sundari got elected garnering 19 votes against the rebel candidate, Geetha’s 11 votes.
On Thursday evening 11 newly elected councilors including one from AIADMK and one from BJP were whisked away to a resort in Puducherry by a rebel group of DMK owing allegiance to the party district treasurer, Gunashekaran. The party district treasurer’s wife, Geetha was an aspirant for the Mayor post but the party leadership decided to field R. Sundari who is the wife of A. Raja party city unit secretary.
The fight between the two factions became so intense that the 11 councilors were taken away by the rebel faction and kept in a resort from Thursday evening onwards.
Of the 45 councilors of the Cuddalore corporation, 19 cast their votes in favour of R. Sundari while 12 voted for the rebel candidate G. Geetha. One vote was declared invalid.
Six AIADMK councilors abstained from voting. Of the 11 councilors who were kept in the resort, 4 managed to break free and vote but 7 were not able to participate in the voting.
It may be noted that of the 45 wards in the newly formed Cuddalore corporation, the DMK front won in 34 wards. DMK alone won in 27 seats while its allies , Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Thamizhaga Vazhvumurivai Katchi (TVK) won in 3 seats each. Congress won in 1 seat.
The election for the Mayor post was predicted to be an easy cakewalk for the DMK as it had 34 councilors from its front and the support of 2 independent candidates. However after the party announced R. Sundari, wife of party city unit secretary, Raja as the candidate there was a stiff challenge. G. Geetha wife of DMK district treasurer Gunashekharan raised a banner of revolt against the candidature of R. Sundari.
Raja is reportedly close to the Tamil Nadu fisheries minister, M.R.K. Panneerselvam who being a heavy-weight minister extended his full support to Sundari. DMK being a cadre-based party announced a whip that the councilors vote for the party’s official candidate but the rebel candidate did not withdraw her nomination and fought the elections much to the dismay of the DMK state leadership.
A senior leader of DMK while speaking to BPNS said, “ This is an unprecedented development in our party. The rebellion will be strictly put down and this has reduced the glow of our victory across the state. Strict action will be taken against those who acted against the party’s dictum.”
Sundari was sworn in as Mayor on Friday with the Cuddalore corporation secretary, N. Viswanathan administering the oath of office to her. Tamil Nadu agriculture minister, M.R.K. Panneerselvam handed over the ceremonial dress and mace to the newly elected Mayor.
