Caste Hindus call the shots in Keeripatti

MADURAI: Caste Hindus in Keeripatti, who have unanimously selected a dalit candidate of their choice, are allegedly denying permission for others from the community to campaign for the forthcoming on local body elections. The caste Hindus in the village, have selected A Mookakalai as their choice for the panchayat president's post in Keeripatti, which is a reserved constituency.and denied to permission for other candidates for campaigning.
Sitting panchayat president P Balusamy, who is contesting again in this election, told TOI that the caste Hindus of the village conducted a meeting on September 26 and selected their A Mokkakalai, who is sweeper in the village and unanimously decided to vote for him.
Another one candidate, A Subban said that he got a ladder symbol for panchayat president post, hence he and was planning going to campaign, but the when caste Hindus denied him permission for the same. campaign.
Another one candidate P Chinnasamy, who has also filed his nomination told TOI that they have were aware about it and already submitted a the complaint to the district collector U Sagayam, but district
the administration has not take any action, till now.
He alleged that the caste Hindus' community leaders Kasimayan, C Perarasu, P Rajakili, A Manimuthu and others threatened the five dalit candidates, who have filed their nominations. "If we are going to campaign, then they threatened us that we will be attacked," he claimed. Another one candidate P Palani, another candidate told TOI that some members of the caste Hindus had extended their support to them, but their leaders warned them that if they would support us, them, then they will be ostracised from the community.
Dalit activist-cum-writer, Tamil Muthalvan told TOI that they have planned to file a PIL in the Madurai bench of Madras high court. on Monday.
"This kind of attitude is dead against the democracy. Hence, government should take action against the culprits," he said. Keeripatti, is a village in Usilampatti taluk of Madurai district, is situated 34km away from the city. Keeripatti is 3.5 km distance from its Taluk Main Town Usilampatti . Keeripatti is 34 km distance from its district Main City Madurai East.
The total voters is 1150, including 900 caste Hindus and 250 dalits. Keeripatti is one of the four reserved panchayats, where elections could not be held for a long time due to non-cooperation by the caste Hindus to the rotational reservation policy. After the decades of struggle, the state government had conducted the local body elections in 2006.