DMK claims good show in TN local body polls

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam president M Karunanidhi on Friday claimed that the chances of the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance winning the local body elections were bright, even as the opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies demanded repoll, alleging large scale violence and booth capturing in the city.

In a brief chat with newspersons after casting his vote at a booth in Gopalapuram, Karunanidhi, dismissing the charges made by AIADMK general secretary and leader of the opposition J Jayalalithaa

that the ruling DMK had resorted to bogus voting.

"This is the reason she is giving for her party's defeat in the elections," he said.

Jayalalithaa, in a statement in Chennai, alleged that DMK activists, accompanied by rowdies and anti-social elements, had rigged polling in all the 155 wards in the Chennai Corporation with the help of police.

Stating that the elections did not reflect the spirit of democracy, she said the election, which was nothing but murder of democracy, should be cancelled and re-polling must be conducted with the help of the Army.