DMK, AIADMK write to ECI over possibility of disturbances while counting votes today

Chennai: A day before the counting of votes, the ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK raised apprehension over safety arrangements today. Both parties separately wrote to Election Commission of India and police, each accusing the rival camp and its allies of planning disruptions at the counting centres.

DMK organisational secretary R S Bharathi said the party was apprehensive that BJP and its allies may try to create law and order issues at the centres. "We request ECI to act immediately on any complaint of disturbances at counting centres. Usually, they say action is being taken but keep matters pending till evening," he said. "BJP will do anything. They are capable of doing it," he alleged.



He also questioned the neutrality of ECI, saying, "Not just me, opposition parties across India have also been raising this issue. Even Supreme Court has criticised ECI at times." He added that DMK was prepared to "face anything" if such a situation arose.

AIADMK MP and party's advocate wing secretary I S Inbadurai, meanwhile, alleged that some people linked to DMK's IT wing had obtained media accreditation cards meant for journalists to enter counting centres.

He alleged that district public relations officials were influenced to include certain names in the accreditation list. "This is against election rules. We are not questioning genuine journalists. But in some places, such cards appear to have been issued wrongly," he said. "If wrong persons have entered using those cards, then what is the meaning of all the secrecy and transparency measures introduced by ECI," he asked.

Inbadurai also said AIADMK had submitted names from all 62 centres to ECI seeking verification and cancellation of cards issued to "fake journalists".

Meanwhile, security deployment has been increased manifold to ensure that no untoward incidents occur on the day of the results.