Panchu Arunachalam pitted against Rama Narayanan

Veteran director and producer Panchu Arunachalam is to contest against Rama Narayanan in the election for the post of president of the Tamil Film Producers Council slated for July 6.

Rama Narayanan is backed by the Tamizh Pada Thayarippalargal Munnetra Ani (Tamil Film Producers Progressive Front). Its rival is Jananayaga Murpokku Ani (Democratic Progressive Front), headed by Keyaar. It was expected that either Keyaar or Radhika Sarathkumar would be pitted against Rama Narayanan.

Jananayaga Murpokku Ani held deliberations in Chennai on June 23 and senior leader Panchu Arunachalam emerged as its unanimous choice. It was also decided that Keyaar and Radhika would contest for the posts of secretaries. S.A. Chandrasekharan, A.M. Rathinam, Kameela Naaser and Radhakrishnan would seek election to the executive committee.

Keyaar said Panchu Aruchalam is highly respected in the film industry and is a good administrator too and hence he has been selected for contesting against Rama Narayanan, the incumbent president of the council.

Meanwhile, Justice Ramasubramanian of the Madras High Court has appointed senior advocate R. Yashod Vardhan to conduct the elections. Vardhan would be assisted by two advocates _ I. Chandrakumar and V. Parthiban.

The judge permitted the Election Officer and his assistants to take police help during the elections and during the counting of votes and also videograph the polling and counting of votes.

The court's intervention was sought by the Keyaar group on the grounds that the elections would not be free and fair unless A.V.M. Murugan was replaced as election officer.