After reports and videos of alleged PMK functionaries capturing polling booths in Dharmapuri constituency went viral on social media, the DMK candidate there has demanded re-polling at multiple voting centres. In a petition submitted to the Collector, S Senthilkumar has alleged that 10 booths in the Pappireddipatty Assembly segment where votes were cast for the two Assembly bye-polls and Parliamentary polls, were captured by members of the PMK.
In his petition, the DMK candidate points out that the party suspected that such an issue would arise during polling following PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss's speech on April 5. The former Union Minister allegedly insinuated during a campaign meeting at Tiruporurn that his party members would capture booths in the constituency. Anbumani had said - 'What will happen in Polling booth; We will only be in the booth; Then what...Should I say it openly? Have you understood?' Following this, the DMK had filed a complaint with the Election Commission and asked for action against Anbumani, additional security for booths where voters were also casting a vote for the bye-elections, and strict instruction to Presiding officers.
However, referring to a news article in The Hindu which speaks about the booth capturing witnessed on April 18, the DMK alleges that several unlawful incidents occurred inside the booth.
According to the petition, "Multiple votes were cast by a single person with the help of officials at the insistence of PMK booth agents; non-PMK voters were not allowed to cast their votes; PMK booth agents totally captured the booths; CCTV cameras were not covering the polling; and unidentified persons belonging to PMK were allowed to cast multiple votes without any verification as to their valid IDs."
In addition to this, the party has alleged that PMK agents went as far as pressing the option to vote for the party multiple times. The DMK argues that this indicates a collusion among PMK cadre, agents, polling booth officials and the police. Given this situation, Senthilkumar states that a re-poll is necessary to ensure free and fair elections.
Amongst the booths he has named as compromised are - booth no. 192, 193, 194, 195 in Nathamedu, booth no. 186, 187 in Kethureddypatti panchayat, booth no. 196, 197 in Jaliyur, and booth no. 181 and 182 in Ayyampatti.