All set for Election

Electronic voting machines, and all necessary materials required for the election scheduled for Thursday were moved to all the 1,620 polling booths in Krishnagiri, Veppanahalli, Uthangarai, Bargur, Hosur, and Thally from the Krishnagiri Collectorate on Wednesday.

Zonal officers accompanied the polling materials. Arrangements have been made to help differently abled persons to exercise their franchise.

They will be assisted by security personal, wheel chairs will be provided, if needed. Facilities such as toilets, and provide drinking water have been arranged in all the polling booths.

Polling materials were moved to the lone polling booth at Ekkalnatham, a village atop a hill in Veppanahalli assembly segment, using donkeys. The village is situated 3.5km above the plains. The polling booth at Ekkalnatham Panchayat Union Middle School was established for the first time during the last Lok Sabha elections.

Polling booths have been set up in other hilltop villages such as Ulibanda, Uduparani, Belpatti, Kottaiyur, Athinatham, Thottamanju, Kotakarai, Tholuvapetta, Sithapuram, Onnepuram, Bettamugilalam, Manjukondapalli and Mallahalli and three in Urigam village coming under the Thali Assembly segment.

In Dharmapuri, polling materials including EVMs, were moved to all the 1,615 polling booths. Donkeys were used to move the materials to booths in Kotturmalai and Erimalai under the Vattuvanalli panchayat.

Shun AIADMK, DMK: Chiranjeevi

R. Arivanantham

 Union Tourism Minister K. Chiranjeevi on Monday asked voters in the Krishnagiri Lok Sabha Constituency to shun both the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, alleging that they were looking for a post-poll alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

Campaigning for Congress candidate A. Chellakumar, the Minister listed the welfare schemes implemented by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government (UPA) at the Centre.

The 108 ambulance services operated by the Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and rice at subsidised price for the poor were some of the schemes the UPA government had implemented. However, State governments headed by Opposition parties were taking credit to these schemes, he said. Calling the BJP communal, Mr. Chiranjeevi said it would be dangerous for the country if that party formed the government.

He reached out to voters by speaking in Telugu as Krishnagiri shares a border with Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Alleges that the parties are looking for post-poll alliance with BJP

Poor rainfall kills neera yield; farmers hit

M. K. Ananth

Neera (palm nectar), a sweet, natural coolant, is collected from palm trees between mid January and May every year.

But the season is nearing its end quite early this year, as the yield from palm trees has come down heavily because of scant rain last year.

The number of persons selling ‘pathanir’ alongside the roads have came down too.

Medicinal value

The drink having medicinal value is usually collected twice a day.

It is used for making jaggery too. “Palm trees have very high drought resistance. But the neera yield is affected when rainfall dips,” said V. Vijayalakshmi, Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Palm Products Development Board.

She said that Krishnagiri district has more than two lakh palm trees. Mathur, Pochampalli, Eechanngadu, Muttapatti, Kalarpathi, Kodipathi, Madhampatti, and Chanipathi have a thick concentration of palm trees.

“There are about one lakh trees in Salem district. There is a thick population of these trees at Thanavathiyur, Vanavasi, Tharamangalam, and Periyampatti,” Ms. Vijayalakshmi said and added that not all the trees are used for tapping palm nectar.

She said that male palm trees begin yielding neera during the early days of the season — from mid January to February.

“They yield about 10 litres to 15 litres a day. The female trees begin yielding when the yield of male trees starts dropping. But the female trees yield 20 litres to 25 litres a tree a day and for a longer period,” she said.

This year the yield has dropped by 50 per cent and has badly affected the livelihood of people who depend on it for a living,” she added.

Krishnagiri: Where caste vies with Modi factor

R. Arivanantham

Infrastructure gaps impede development in Krishnagiri

The Krishnagiri Lok Sabha constituency has to its credit many specialities such as, the much contentious Cauvery River entering the State at Biligundlu, substantial mineral (granite) wealth and the hub of horticulture and floriculture products.

Bordering Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the influence of linguistic minorities such as ‘Vokkaligas,’ ‘Lingayats,’ from Karnataka and the ‘Reddys’ from Andhra Pradesh hold the key in three Assembly segments of Thally, Hosur and Veppanahalli. The other dominant communities are the OBC ‘Vanniyars’ who form 20 per cent of the electorate, the Dalits (16 per cent) and ‘Vellalars’ (11.5 per cent).

Since the 1951 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has won eight times in this constituency. Stalwarts such as C. Subramaniam (elected in the 1971 by-election) and C.R. Narasimhan, grandson of C. Rajagopalachari won the seat in the first two elections.

Over 1500 tiny and small ancillary auto industries, auto majors and a watch industry provide direct and indirect employment to thousands of locals and migrant labourers. Yet, the lack of efforts on the part of the Centre and State governments to improve industrialisation and infrastructure is a key issue in this constituency.

The SIPCOT industrial estate established in Bargur Panchayat Union on 1300 acres has not taken off due to lack of basic amenities. The Bolupalli SIPCOT industrial estate project is also yet to move ahead due to high land rates fixed by the authorities, says an office-bearer of the ‘Hosur Small and Tiny Industries Association.’

Further, Krishnagiri does not have a direct train to Chennai, as the train to Tirupathur was withdrawn nearly five decades ago. The proposed rail link between Jolarpet and Hosur via Krishnagiri and Shoolagiri is pending with the Planning Commission for over a year.

“The immediate demand is a direct train between Hosur and Chennai via Bangalore till the new rail line is laid’’ said M. Thulasidoss, Secretary, Hosur Payanigal Membattu Sangam.

Expansion of the Krishnagiri-Tiruvannamalai National Highway into four-lane has not happened.

Having zeroed in on this seat quite early, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) nominated its president G.K. Mani. He, in fact, started campaigning in October last year. The ruling AIADMK has fielded former District Panchayat Chairman K. Ashok Kumar from the ‘Vellala Goundar’ community and the DMK candidate is P. Chinna Pillappa, a lawyer belonging to ‘Kurumbar’ community.

The All India Congress Committee secretary A. Chellakumar, who has got the party ticket this time and N.S.M. Gowda of Janata Dal (Secular), who is contesting with the support of Communist Party of India (Marxist) are among the other key contestants.

The DMK has won the seat twice in the last two elections in 2004 and 2009, when it was an ally of the Congress. This time, both the parties face the PMK, which is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance that claims a ‘Modi factor’ in its favour. The poll code here is all the more hard to crack as the election date approaches.

Narendra Modi's Election Campaign Speech At Krishnagiri

Security to be strengthened for Modi’s campaign in Krishnagiri

The district police is gearing up for providing foolproof security to the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s election campaign meeting to be held in Krishnagiri on Wednesday afternoon.

Highly placed sources in the police department told The Hindu that they had received a tentative schedule of Modi’s visit to Krishnagiri.

As per the schedule, he would land at the private air strip Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Limited (TAAL) near Hosur and then proceed by a chartered helicopter to the meeting venue in Kanimedu near Krishnagiri.

As many as 3,000 police personnel from the nearby districts such as Dharmapuri, Tirupur, Namakkal, Tiruchi and Vellore including 12 companies of Tamil Nadu Special Police will be present for the meeting.

As many as two Deputy Inspectors General of Police, and six Superintendents of Police would be deployed across the district.

Ahead of Modi’s visit Subash G. Trivedi, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Coastal Security) from Gujarat reached Krishnagiri on Tuesday to inspect the security arrangements.

He had visited the Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Limited (TAAL) facility on Tuesday afternoon to check the security preparedness, the sources said.

After the Krishnagiri campaign meeting, Mr. Modi will go to Salem and Coimbatore.

After the public meeting in Coimbatore, Mr. Modi will leave for Ramanathapuram after an overnight stay, the party sources added.

NDA will bag 320 seats, says Vaiko

MDMK general secretary Vaiko addressing an election meeting in Mathur on Monday. Krishnagiri PMK candidate G.K.Mani is in the picture.

People who wish to have caste, and communal harmony and peace will prefer a government headed by the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, MDMK general secretary Vaiko said on Monday.

Mr. Vaiko was canvassing votes for the PMK candidate for Krishnagiri G.K. Mani and Dharmapuri candidate Anbumani Ramadoss at a series of meetings at Hosur, Shoolagiri, Krishnagiri, Bargur, Mathur, Pochampalli and Uthangarai in Krishnagiri district and at Palacode and Pennagaram in Dharmapuri district.

Mr. Vaiko said first-time voters wanted a change of guard and they would definitely vote for Mr. Modi, helping the NDA bag 320 seats and handing the BJP 272 seats (simple majority). The NDA would win all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu. If that happened, “we can fight for the rights of Indian fishermen and those of the State in the long-pending Palar, south Pennar, Cauvery and Mullaiperiyar dam issues.

Condemning the incident in which stones were thrown at Mr. Anbumani Ramadoss, the PMK Youth Wing leader, Mr. Vaiko praised the restraint shown by PMK workers to avoid a clash. He also praised the swift action taken by Superintendent of Police Asra Garg.

Crorepati candidates in the race

The following are the candidates who have assets worth crores of rupees, contesting the elections from Krishnagiri, and Dharmapuri Lok Sabha constituencies:

Anubmani Ramadoss (PMK)

The former Union Health Minister contesting from Dharmapuri Lok Sabha constituency has assets worth Rs. 31,08,818 which includes 960 gram of gold ornaments worth Rs. 27,69,600, cash in hand, and investments in shares. He has no immovable properties in his name. The income shown in the tax return for 2012-13 is Rs. 6.70 lakh.

His wife A. Sowmiya has assets worth Rs. 4,32,49,248 (20 kg silver, 2442 gram gold, and 20 carat of diamond). She has properties in her name inherited and self-acquired and investment in companies worth Rs. 26,21,93,500.

Her daughter S.A. Sanjuthra has assets worth Rs. 3,95,929 (94.749 gram of gold, silver), second dependent has assets worth Rs. 34,57,187 (3 kg silver, 905.26 gram gold, and 8.6 carat diamond) and her third dependent has assets worth Rs. 19,73,060 (3 kg silver, 500 gram gold, and 5 carat diamond).

Vazhapadi K. Ramasugathan (Congress)

He has assets worth Rs. 1,06,59,877 includes cash in hand, 300 gram gold, a four-wheeler, and investments in shares and insurance policies. His wife has assets worth Rs. 55,77,000 including 1000 gram of gold, and a car. Their daughter has assets worth Rs. 4,25,000.

He has immovable assets worth Rs. 18,99,40,000 including agriculture lands, and house properties. His wife has properties worth Rs. 9 lakh.

R. Thamaraiselvan (DMK)

The MP has assets worth Rs. 18,90,356 including 10 gram gold, two four-wheelers, a motor bike, and investments in insurance policies. He has properties worth Rs. 1,08,50,000.

P.S. Mohan (AIADMK)

He has assets worth Rs. 9,02,000. His wife has assets worth Rs. 9,00,159 (70 sovereign of gold ornaments). His immovable assets worth Rs. 1.5 crore.

Dr. A. Chellakumar (Congress)

The All India Congress secretary contesting from Krishnagiri Lok Sabha constituency has assets worth Rs. 1,22,72,537.88. His wife A. Devika has assets worth 27,58,729 (includes 800 gram gold, 2 kg of silver vessels and utensils). Their daughter has assets worth Rs. 8,95,279. Their son has assets worth Rs. 5,23,361.

Mr. Chellakumar has immovable assets worth Rs. 3,58,30,856 including a petrol bunk, and lands (self acquired and inherited).P. Chinnapillappa (DMK)

He has assets wroth Rs. 15,79,410 and immovable properties worth Rs. 14,88,43,000 (self acquired and inherited). His wife has assets worth Rs. 10 lakh.

Admission under Right to Education Act begins

Children between six and 14 entitled to free education

The admission process to fill 25 per cent seats in private educational institutions under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act 2009 began here on Tuesday (April 8).

Under the RTE Act, every child aged between six and 14 years is entitled to free education at the nearest school. In accordance with Government Order No. 60 of School Education Department (X-2) dated April 1, 2013, the private school (not minority schools) should reserve 25 per cent of the seats for poor children, for which the government will reimburse the fees.

Under the scheme, poor children from scheduled caste, schedule tribe, economically backward and below poverty line families can admit their children at the entry level in CBSE and ICSE Schools (except minority schools).

Parents of wards in the above categories who have an annual income below Rs. 2 lakh can admit their children to entry level classes in primary level in the schools located within one km from their residence and upper primary level within three km range.

Applications are being issued at the office of the Chief Educational Officer, Krishnagiri, and offices of District Education Officers, Krishnagiri and Hosur, free of cost till May 5, 2014.

Filled in applications in duplicate should be submitted on or before May 9, 2014, according to a press release issued by the Chief Educational Officer M. Ramasamy here on Wednesday.

Applications are being issued at the office of the Chief Educational Officer, Krishnagiri, and offices of District Education Officers, Krishnagiri and Hosur, free of cost till May 5

233 polling booths declared sensitive in Krishnagiri district

General Observer for the Krishnagiri Lok Sabha constituency, Lalhming Thanga verifying the records at the election control room at the Collectorate on Tuesday. District Election Officer T.P. Rajesh is in the picture.

District Election Officer and District Collector T.P. Rajesh said on Tuesday that as many as 233 polling booths have been declared as sensitive in the district.

Addressing an all-party meeting here, he said that 11 additional booths would come up in hilly and difficult terrain in the district in addition to the existing 1, 609 booths. Mr. Rajesh also said that four new booths in Thally assembly constituency, four in Hosur and three booths have been added to the Veppanahalli assembly constituencies in addition to the existing 1,609 booths.

He said that candidates can withdraw their nominations till 3 p.m. on Wednesday. After that the final list of candidates in fray would be published. Immediately after that, a meeting with the candidates would be convened for allotment of symbols.

Mr. Rajesh said that the last button in the EVM would be for pressing the NOTA option (None of the Above). Political parties have been asked to submit the list of polling agents along with the five numbers of photographs of agents.

The names of the candidates and symbols would be affixed in the presence of candidates. Booth agents should not carry mobile phone with them inside the polling booth. No agent would be allowed to go out of the polling booth after 3 p.m. on the polling day. A mock poll would be conducted before the actual polling starts.

The EVM machines would be sent to the assembly constituencies concerned in the presence of the General Observer. Booth slips would be issued by the Booth Level Officers (BLOs). Intervention of politicians during distribution of booth slips would attract stringent action.

Micro Observers from the Union Government and banks would be involved and web cameras would be installed at sensitive booths, Mr. Rajesh added.

The meeting was held in the presence of the General Observer Lalhming Thanga.P. Kannammal, Superintendent of Police, among others participated.

Stalin accuses AIADMK Govt. of dumping Hogenakkal scheme

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) treasurer M.K. Stalin on Tuesday accused the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government of dumping the Rs.1928-crore Hogenakkal Drinking Water and Fluorosis Mitigation Scheme.

Beginning his election campaign for DMK’s Krishnagiri Lok Sabha candidate P. Chinnapillappa at Thally, Mr. Stalin said many areas, especially the rural habitations in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts, were yet to benefit from the scheme. (The scheme was drawn up to provide a solution to the problem of high fluoride content in ground water that caused health problems in the people of the two districts.)

The scheme was implemented because of the efforts taken by the previous DMK government. It was the DMK which took efforts to bring the scheme into reality with the financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

As much as 99 per cent of the scheme was over during the DMK rule, but the AIADMK government dumped the scheme after coming to power.

The scheme was dedicated by the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to the public in haste at the end of May last year through video-conferencing. Many rural habitations that were affected by fluoride in ground water were yet to get protected water under the Hogenakkal scheme. It was the DMK government which took a lot of efforts to implement various integrated drinking water schemes in the State such as the Ramanathapuram Integrated Drinking Water scheme and desalination plants. Providing protected drinking water to the public was the government’s duty. Instead of providing water free of cost, the only State selling bottled drinking water was Tamil Nadu, Mr. Stalin said.

Mr. Stalin also campaigned at Denkanikottai, Kelamangalam, Hosur, Shoolagiri, Kurubarapalli, Krishangiri, Bargur, Mathur and Pochampalli.

Later, addressing a public meeting at Uthangarai in the evening, Mr. Stalin dared the AIADMK Government to prove before a committee of legislators of various parties that it had implemented the Hogenakkal scheme totally.

Mr. Stalin also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of intending to cause communal unrest across the nation by pledging in its manifesto to build Ram Temple at Ayodhya and bringing about a uniform civil code.

Nominations of 12 candidates rejected in Krishnagiri

The nomination papers were scrutinised by the respective District Election Officers at 11 a.m. in the presence of the representatives of political parties and Independents. The entire process was monitored by the General Observers appointed by the Election Commission of India.

In Krishnagiri, District Election Officer T.P. Rajesh accepted 16 nominations out of the 28 filed. Twelve nominations were rejected.

General Observer

The General Observer appointed by the Election Commission of India for the Krishnagiri Lok Sabha constituency, Lalhming Thanga, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Mizoram, took charge on Monday. Mr. Lalhming held discussion with the District Election Officer T.P. Rajesh and other officials at the Travellers’ Bungalow. Public and representatives of political parties can lodge complaints to the General Observer at Room No. 80 at the Collectorate between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. everyday.

He can also be contacted over phone - 83000 77728/ 04343 231074; Fax; 04343 231052.

Liaison Officer to the General Observer: P. Jagir Hussein – mobile: 07402607000 and 09443218573.

Two expenditure observers, H. Ananda, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer from Karnataka, and Madan Thimanpalli, an IRS officer from Andhra Pradesh, arrived in Krishnagiri on March 29.

Mr. Ananda will keep track of the expenditure of candidates in Uthangarai, Bargur and Krishnagiri Assembly constituencies and Mr. Madan Thimanpalli will keep track of candidates in Veppanahalli, Hosur and Thally Assembly constituencies. The contact numbers of the observers are: H. Ananda - 83000 77729 and Madan Thimanpalli - 83000 777730, a DIPR release said.