Indirect election peaceful
The Hindu
Indirect to the top two posts in all the 15 urban local bodies, including Sivakasi Corporation, went off smoothly. While 28 posts went unopposed, election was held to the post of Vice-Chairperson of Rajapalayam municipality, no election could be held for the post of vice-Chairperson of W. Pudupatti Town Panchayat due to lack of quorum.
Among the 28 posts, except for the post of Chairperson of Watrap Town panchayat, that went to Communist Party of India candidate, P. Dhavamani, all other posts were garnered by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
Sivakasi Corporation
On the expected lines, I. Sangeetha (44) was elected as the first Mayor of Sivakasi Corporation. Another aspirant of Mayor post, K. Vignesh Priya, was elected Deputy Mayor. Both the women, who have contested election for the first time, were elected unopposed in the 48-member council.
After the election, the Commissioner, Ms. Sangeetha and Ms. Priya were sworn-in by the Corporation Commissioner. P. Krishnamoorthi. The Mayor who came out to the council hall in the ceremonial robes, was handed over a long silver sceptre. Minister for Industries, Thangam Thennarasu, and DMK partymen greeted the new Mayor.
Municipalities
The post of Chairperson of municipalities have gone to the local heavyweights of the DMK without any opposition to the candidates, announced by the DMK high command. The new Chairperson of Aruppukottai municipality, S. Sundaralakshmi is the wife of former Chairperson, S. Sivaprakasam, and the head of Rajapalayam municipality, A.A.S. Bavithra Shyam, is the daughter-in-law of A.A. Subbaraj, former Chairperson of the town. Both the posts were reserved for General (Woman).
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.