CHENNAI: CPM state secretary P Shanmugam on Thursday alleged that political parties were distributing cash to voters ahead of the Oct 6 bypolls in Tamil Nadu and that villagers told him that TVK was paying more money than other parties. TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna as well as TVK’s allies have denied the money distribution charge.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a protest organised by Left parties demanding resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Shanmugam said the cash distribution came to light when Left front leaders visited villages in Madurantakam and Dharapuram assembly constituencies for campaigning. “Villagers told us that all political parties were distributing cash for votes, with the ruling TVK paying the highest amount. They asked money from us too,” he said. Taking a dig at chief minister C JOseph Vijay’s description of TVK as a “thuyia sakthi” (pure force), Shanmugam said the ruling party should offer an explanation. He also sought the ECI to take note of the “confessional statement from voters,” and prevent cash distribution. State PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna rejected the charges. “Dont fall prey for such false narratives,’’ he said in his speech at Madurantakam. TVK national spokesman Pazha Selvakumar termed Shanmugam’s allegation as “completely false”. He said it was painful to hear such remarks from the Left parties.
TNCC chief Manickam Tagore also termed the allegation as false.