Thoothukudi: Film director V. Gauthaman withdrew his nomination from the poll contest in the belief that the Lok Sabha election in Thoothukudi constituency may not be fair.
After having expressed his desire to contest in Thoothukudi solely on the issue of Sterlite just ten days ago on March 16, Gauthaman filed his papers on March 26. However, his candidature was not appreciated by many of the anti-Sterlite activists, who had already expressed their support to the DMK candidate Kanimozhi Karunanidhi.
In this backdrop on the day of scrutiny of nominations of the candidates on March 27, Gauthaman, found fault with the acceptance of the nominations of the BJP contestant, Dr Tamilisai Soundarrajan and the DMK candidate, Kanimozhi Karunanithi after mutual opposition by the DMK and the BJP lawyers respectively.
“The DMK members opposed the nomination of Dr Tamilisai Soundarrajan citing that she had not mentioned that she is the director of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and countering the DMK, the BJP men too objected to the nomination of Kanimozhi citing that she had not mentioned her PAN number in her affidavit. However, after delaying for a while, the district collector announced the acceptance of the nominations of both,” said Gauthaman, who too found the process inexplicable.
“This unfair acceptance of the nominations of the BJP and the DMK candidates is a prelude to an equally unfair election on April 18 and hence to demonstrate my protest to the faulty decision of the election commission, I am withdrawing my nomination,” declared Gauthaman and himself pulled down the curtain on his election drama in Thoothukudi on March 28.
Gauthaman's decision to withdraw his nomination apprehending unfair poll on April 18, however, created no great impact on the anti-Sterlite activists, many of whom, however, were happy that the anti-BJP votes may not get scattered. The BJP side, however, suspects DMK hand behind the cine director withdrawing his nomination.
Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading.
