Ward member for 4 days, back in fray

VELLORE: Having had to fight a five-year long battle for her rightful seat and finally winning it recently, the DMDK’s E P Prabavath­y got to function as councillor of Ward no 4 in Natrampalli panchayat union in Vellore district only for four days, right at the end of the local body’s earlier term. So, she is seeking a fresh mandate in the coming election in the same ward, hoping to ride a sympathy wave and win.In the last elections held on October 15, 2006, Prabavathy secured 1,125 votes, where as her nearest rival P Anbukarasi of DMK, who, despite polling only 1,124 votes, was declared the winner with a tally of 1,127.It was only after a trying five-year legal battle, during which time she faced several adversities, that Prabavathy was able to prove she  was, indeed, the winner of the ward election held last time around.   The struggle to seek justice first took the 29-year-old to the Vellore fast track court, which dismissed her plea in 2010.  Then she appealed to the Madras High Court, which gave a verdict in her favour on August 4, 2011, after which she was sworn in. She took charge as ward member on September 16.  But fresh elections for local bodies were called and the code of conduct came into effect on September 21, cutting down her term to just four days.Her hardship and the  fact that she almost entirely lost out on serving her term, Prabavathy now hopes  that she will be victorious at the polls this time  Fervently wishing that the people give her a vast majority, leaving no room for ambiguity like last time, Prabavathy is all set to contest the seat, which is reserved for  SC women.