Dharna against Karur Panchayat Chairperson

KARUR: The Karur panchayat council that had remained inactive for the past 18 months due to inner feud, met on Monday, only to find a group of nine members staging a sit-in protest, raising slogans against the Chairperson.It had been a prolonged tussle between the Chairperson Valarmathi Chidambaram, who was recently expelled from the DMK, and Deputy Chairman Sadasivam (DMK). A number of protest agitations were staged at intervals during the preceding 18-month period, including legal advice.After the new government took over, a meeting of the council was called on Monday, which was inaugurated by chairperson Valarmathi. The members attended, included AIADMK councillors Periasamy, Radhakrishnan and others. Nine members, who had kept away from the meet, made an entry carrying placards displaying their demands. The chairperson left for her chamber while the agitators resorted to a sit-in protest.  Speaking on the issue, the deputy chairman Sadasivam pointed out that the Commissioner had sanctioned Rs 1.30-crore worth works on contract without the consent of the members.  ‘As such, the amount of  Rs 1.30 crore should be recalled and added to the general fund. The Chairperson who has been caught in the web of corruption, should be dismissed which is being stressed by us from time to time,’ he said.Valarmathi Chidambaram stated ‘the amount of was utilised after the members had endorsed the letter listing the work to be done in each ward. I had challenged the opposite camp to prove the charges against me six months back but it remains unattended. The Madurai Bench has declared that even the Collector is not empowered to initiate action against me. I will undertake a fast stressing action against the deputy chairman,’ Valarmathy added.Later, the meet was resumed and 35 resolutions, including felicitations to the CM and Transport Minister V Senthil Balaji, were passed. The 13-member council had 12 members against the chairperson. At present, two AIADMK members had extended their support to her. The council was provided police security in view of the developments.