Chennai, Oct 2:
CPM state secretary P Shanmugam on Thursday alleged that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) had distributed the highest amount of money among the parties contesting the Madurantakam bypoll.
Shanmugam, who campaigned in several villages in the constituency on Wednesday, said voters had approached CPM workers seeking cash and told them that other parties were distributing money. According to him, some voters specifically claimed that TVK had offered the highest amount.
He said voters even asked CPM workers to give them money if the party could not match the amount allegedly being offered by other parties. Shanmugam said the CPM had refused, maintaining that the Left parties would not distribute cash to secure votes.
The CPM leader said his party would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission over the alleged cash distribution. The allegations have been made by the CPM and have not been independently established.
Shanmugam also questioned a statement attributed to a TVK candidate during the Dharapuram campaign that she had resigned from her earlier position and joined the TVK to work for the constituency.
He said the statement could give the impression that constituencies represented by Opposition MLAs might not receive government support, and sought a clarification from Chief Minister and TVK president Vijay.
Shanmugam also criticised the Election Commission over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and reiterated the Left parties’ demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He welcomed the DMK’s stated support for the INDIA bloc’s move on the issue.