AIADMK 'supporters' protesting against AMMK candidate P Vetrivel

Commotion broke out at the Perambur election office while several AIADMK 'supporters' came to blows with a few colleagues of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) candidate P Vetrivel over his application for the assembly by election on April 18.

A group of people claimed that Vetrivel's application was 'full of holes' and instigated an argument with members of the T T V Dhinakaran-led AMMK as well as the police personnel present as they wanted the election officials to reject the application.

When the situation threatened to go out of control, staff at the election office complained police personnel who chased away all the 'fighters'. They locked the gates of the building and arranged a large police force to prevent additional trouble.

A majority of the protesters told police that they were not associated to the AIADMK and that they had come to object, the AMMK personnel present claimed members of the ruling party were behind the commotion that was intended at preventing Vetrivel from contesting the election. Pitted against Vetrivel are R D Sekar of the DMK and the AIADMK's R S Rajesh apart from some independents.

Dinesh, an independent, said, "Vetrivel left many fields empty in Form-6A. We found this and took it to the notice of the election officer who didn't see it as a fault. We, however, submitted a formal complaint and got an acknowledgement. We will take it to the chief election officer."

"I have faced several elections. The opposite camp people (AIADMK) are trying to stop me from contesting. So they are creating unrest," Vetrivel said as he was 100% sure of winning the election.