Chennai, Oct 3:
BJP senior leader Tamilisai Soundararajan has cited allegations by Left parties that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) was distributing money to voters in the constituencies where by-elections are scheduled, questioning the party’s claims of opposing cash-for-votes practices.
With by-elections due in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, allegations of money distribution have become a point of political contention among parties campaigning in the constituencies.
The controversy intensified after Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary P Shanmugam alleged that voters had informed his party that TVK workers were distributing money in large quantities. He said such complaints had emerged during the party’s campaign in the by-election constituencies, particularly in Madurantakam.
Shanmugam had called on the Election Commission to take action over the allegations and urged the concerned political leaders to explain the claims. The allegations came despite TVK leaders maintaining that the party would not distribute money to secure votes.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai on Friday, Tamilisai said even members of parties aligned with the TVK were claiming that the party was distributing more money to voters.
“Even those in the TVK alliance are saying that it is the TVK that is distributing more money,” she said, referring to the allegations raised by the Left parties.
Tamilisai said there had earlier been an impression that Vijay had changed the political culture of offering money for votes, even if his party lost an election. However, she argued that the latest allegations had raised questions about that claim.
She said political parties that sought to bring about a positive change in electoral practices should maintain those standards, adding that parties should be held accountable if they returned to the same practices.
The claims of cash distribution remain allegations raised by political leaders. The report did not establish that the alleged payments had taken place.