Rajinikanth supports 'One India, One Election' proposal
Chennai, July 15 : At a time when major political parties in Tamil Nadu are opposed to the Central government's proposal of 'One India, One Election', actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth on Sunday came out in support of it.
Speaking to reporters here, Rajinikanth said 'One India, One Election' is a good idea as it would save time and money of political parties.
He also said a decision on contesting in the general elections will be taken later. Rajinikanth had earlier said his party would contest in the next assembly elections.
Queried about the proposed Chennai-Salem eight lane expressway, Rajinikanth said such projects would bring in industrial investments.
However, he said, the government should see that only minimum farm land is acquired for the project and the land owners are compensated to the extent that they feel happy.
Asked about Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah's statement that there is a lot of corruption in Tamil Nadu, Rajinikanth ducked the question and said: "It is Shah's views and the media should ask him."
According to Rajinikanth, the state government could bring in bigger projects. He also gave a good performance certificate to Tamil Nadu School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan.
He also said compared to other states in the country, the education system in Tamil Nadu is far better.
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Bengal: Over 55 pc turnout till 1 pm in repoll in 15 booths of 2 assembly seats
Kolkata (PTI): Over 55 per cent turnout was recorded till 1 pm in repoll in 15 booths of two assembly constituencies in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Saturday, an official said.
Voting was underway more or less peacefully at 11 polling stations of Magrahat Paschim assembly constituency and four in Diamond Harbour, where the EC ordered repoll a day ago, following reports of electoral malpractices.
However, at booth number 179 at Chanda Primary School of Diamond Harbour seat, the Trinamool Congress alleged that a specially abled voter and his mother were harassed by central forces. The alleged incident sparked protests by party workers and locals.
The TMC claimed that the voter's mother, who had entered the booth to assist him, and her son were detained for a considerable time by central forces over alleged rule violations.
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"TMC leaders Manmohini Biswas and Pratik Ur Rahman reached the spot and led the protests, with residents terming the action unwarranted harassment. The matter has been taken care of by our officials there," an official of the poll body said.
Polling was otherwise peaceful across 15 booths in the area, he added.
Voting began at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm, the official said, adding that till 1 pm, the turnout was 55.57 per cent.
Magrahat Paschim registered 56.33 per cent voter turnout, while in Diamond Harbour, it was 54.9 per cent, a poll official stated.
Voting in these two assembly constituencies was held in the second phase of the state elections on April 29.
The repoll order was based on reports received from returning officers and observers of the two constituencies and "material circumstances", the Election Commission official said.
In Magrahat Paschim, TMC's Md Samim Ahamed Molla is pitted against BJP nominee Goursundar Ghosh, while Abdul Majid Halder of the Congress and ISF candidate Abdul Aziz Al Hassan are also in the fray.
TMC candidate Panna Lal Halder is contesting against Dipak Kumar Halder of the BJP in the Diamond Harbour seat. Goutam Bhattacharya of the Congress and CPI(M)'s Samar Naiya are among other candidates.
The BJP had alleged rampant electoral malpractices in certain polling stations of both the assembly seats under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency, which is represented by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
The EC had deputed its special observer, Subrata Gupta, to fact-check the allegations from the ground.
The poll panel will decide on repolling in the Falta assembly constituency on Saturday.
The West Bengal assembly elections were held in two phases -- April 23 and April 29 -- amid unprecedented security arrangements.
Counting of votes will take place on May 4.
