The Madras High Court has rejected actor-producer Vishal Krishna’s plea requesting for the counting of votes to the Nadigar Sangam elections, which were held on June 23.
According to reports, the plea was filed by Vishal, who contested for the post of general secretary with the team led by Nasser. It was heard by Justice Aadhikesavalu on July 8, and he ruled that votes cannot be counted until investigation on the alleged illegal termination of the 61 members of the council is complete. He posted the case for further hearing this Friday.
A complaint was raised by the 61 members with the District Registrar early in June who claimed that they were removed from the union without proper investigation, with the motive of stopping them from casting their votes in elections. On June 19, three days before elections, the Registrar signed the letter and asked for elections to be stopped. Vishal moved the Madras High Court challenging the Registrar’s order. In a hearing on June 20, his counsel said that the decision was taken over two years ago after consultation with the TFPC general body and it was as per the rules of the association.
The Madras High Court also stated that termination by the TFPC was valid and the elections must take place as planned. However, it ordered that the counting of votes must to be deferred till it investigated the matter further.
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The elections were held at St Ebba’s School in Mylapore on June 23 with Nasser’s Pandavar Ani and Bhagyaraj’s Swami Sankardas Ani contesting opposite each other. After the voting was closed, ballot boxes were sent to the South Indian Bank in Nungambakkam, Chennai. The Sangam is reportedly paying the bank a daily rent to keep the ballots secure.
The South Indian Artists’ Association, referred to as Nadigar Sangam, has been mired in controversies after the elections too. The Madras High Court has initiated criminal proceedings against actor-producer Ishari Ganesh for trying to influence a judge to postpone elections. The case has been posted for later this month.