By-election: DMK ‘going to use money power’

The AIADMK complained to Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo that the DMK was engaged in the production of fake voter identity cards in the Erode (East) Assembly constituency, where a by-election will be held on Feb. 27.

D. Jayakumar, the party’s organisation secretary and former Minister, said that the authorities should ensure no fake cards were used on the day of polling. He accused the ruling party of planning to “capture” booths.

Referring to an audio clip of a speech alleged to be of Local Administration Minister K. N. Nehru, Jayakumar said this showed the ruling party was going to use the “money power.”

He urged the Election Commission to see to it that the by-election was held in a free and fair manner.

Meanwhile, a group of office-bearers from Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party lodged a complaint with Mr. Sahoo, alleging that the DMK and its allies were planning to distribute money to voters in the Erode (East) Assembly constituency.

Narayanan Thirupathy, State vice-president, who was among the group that met the CEO, referred to a recent video clip released by his party, in which Congress candidate in the constituency E.V.K.S. Elangovan and DMK Minister K.N. Nehru were reportedly discussing plans to distribute cash.

Thirupathy said his party told the CEO that the brazen manner in which the two were discussing in the video was an indication that the DMK and its allies were planning to distribute cash for votes on a large scale with the involvement of senior Ministers.

The BJP demanded action against Mr. Nehru and Mr. Elangovan.