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.