Chennai: With just four days remaining and the major political parties (except DMK) delaying the announcement of candidates, the election scenario in the high profile RK Nagar remains dull. Though the corporation officials on Wednesday marked the restricted areas near the polling booths and the office of returning officer at Tondiarpet the interior roads of the dingy RK Nagar lacked the much-awaited pomp and election fanfare.
Election control room at Ripon Buildings also remained sans a complaint on the fourth day after the special cell was launched.
With barely 22 days remaining for the D-day, DMK is the only recognised party that had announced its candidate. DMK candidate Maruthu Ganesh is to yet to file his nomination.
When DC visited the interior roads of RK Nagar the ‘karai vetti’ (party dhoti) was also missing in action. This is the fourth time that the RK Nagar has been subjected to model code of conduct since 2015, in which late CM Jayalalithaa won two consecutive terms including a bypoll.
With another bypoll coming, the roads of RK Nagar remained without the political rallies and due to the stern rules of election commission, the usual political graffiti and banners are also missing in RK Nagar. A few barricades and police persons standing at every entrance in the constituency are the only visible signs informing the arrival of bypoll on December 21 and by evening more police and paramilitary force personnel started manning the exit and entry points of RK Nagar.
“During the last by-election, many candidates employed women to accompany them when they go to door-to-door campaigns. Now, there are no such nuisances. Although, after nominations are over, the election may get its usual mood, choking RK Nagar” Saravanan, a resident of RK Nagar said.
The unexciting scene from RK Nagar was reflected in election control room set up in Ripon Buildings, as no complaints were received through the exclusive toll-free number. “Only 3 complaints were received through the election commission website and this includes a suggestion and an error in voters roll. One of the complaint turned out to be a hoax. We are looking into the complaints,” an official attending the packed control room at Ripon Buildings said.
