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BJP candidate to vote with bruises

BJP candidate R. Nandakumar will cast his vote with a 'fractured finger'
Coimbatore: BJP candidate R. Nandakumar will cast his vote with a 'fractured finger' on Thursday after offering prayers to his family deity at Vellakinaru temple. "I usually offer prayers to my family deity on such special occasions as it brings good luck to me," he said.
After prayers, Mr Nandakumar will go along with his wife Girija and daughter Geetha to cast his vote. For him, poll-eve turned out to be a day of high tension as he was assaulted when he tried to stop distribution of cash in the Sowripalayam area.
"I couldn't even hold a meet with my party functionaries due to the violence unleashed by some AIADMK workers. I had suffered a fracture in one of the fingers. However, I hope that the public will put an end to the atrocities of the AIADMK by voting for the BJP. I will win the elections," he said.
On the other hand, CPM candidate C. Padmanaban said he would start the day like any other normal day. "Our party cadres have been divided into eight groups and they are earmarked with booths to carry out surveillance during the voting process. After casting my vote, I will have a rigorous schedule visiting all the booths till evening," he said. Mr Padmanaban was hopeful that the public will vote for his party in recognition of the hard work put in by party cadres during the campaign. "I am sure our party will get an honourable mandate in the polls," he said.
On Wednesday, Mr Padmanaban took some time off to phone up his friends and well-wishers, whom he missed out over the last 10 days. "As I was busy with campaigning work, I couldn't spare time for them. Hence, I made a string of calls to discuss the ensuing polls," he said.
AIADMK candidate P. Rajkumar, confident of emerging victorious, was busy holding meetings with party functionaries. He has no special beliefs and would spend the day visiting the booths to monitor the voting process.
BJP’s drama for votes: Rajkumar:
AIADMK mayoral candidate P. Rajkumar accused the BJP of "stagemanaging drama and violence" to divert public attention and draw sympathy votes in the elections. Hours after violence erupted in Sowripalayam between the BJP and AIADMK cadres, Rajkumar called a media conference and accused the BJP's mayoral candidate R. Nandakumar of "creating tension and taking the law into his own hands" with the sole motive of gaining electoral mileage.
"The BJP candidate, who is scared of losing the election, planned the violence in Sowripalayam to get some sympathy votes. But people cannot be hoodwinked. The AIADMK will score a big win," he said. If there was cash distribution, the BJP candidate should have informed the police and not taken the law into his own hands, he said.

( Source : dc )
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