The DMK was showering money on the voters every day. All 30 ministers camped in Erode and spent money and misused their power to ensure the victory of their alliance candidate.
Coimbatore: Alleging that no bigger violations have taken place in any of the by-elections held in Tamil Nadu. Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami has said that voters were bribedwith money, non-vegetarian food and gifts galore in form and shape.
In some cases, voters were confined like sheep in shamianas and bars and alleged DMK has won by exploiting the poverty of the people.
Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami while briefing reporters at the Coimbatore airport demanded to know, “Whether it was “Jananayakam†or “Pananayakam†which won in the bypoll?â€.
"The DMK was showering money on the voters every day. All of 30 ministers camped in Erode and spent money and misused their power to ensure the victory of their alliance candidate" he said.
"Since the beginning of the election campaign, the voters have been duped by giving them a token worth Rs 5,000 worth of groceries and chicken meat distributed to every household"
"We have lodged a complaint with the Election Commission and the District Collector about the violations in this election. We also lodged a complaint with the returning officer. But the election authorities did not take any action against the DMK workers who indulged in violations†Edapadi Palanisamy said.
"We canvassed for votes pointing out that they had done well for the people during the AIADMK regime, but the DMK has invested with the money which it earned in the last 22 months and got this victory. Had the elections been held in a democratic manner, the AIADMK would have won†the opposition leader said." he said and added "“No such violations have taken place in any by-election. There is no such historyâ€
“I am saddened to note that despite the DMK indulging in such violations, the media have not highlighted it,†he said.
“We see the results of this by-election as a failure of the Election Commission. Had the Election Commission taken appropriate action, the DMK would not have won. Every day, the DMK tooks away the voters. Our party functionaries could not even see the voters. Local authorities and voters could not be seen either†he said.
When asked about Annamalai's statement that the AIADMK’s defeat was due to the non-merger of AIADMK, he said Annamalai did not say anything like that.
To a question on the allegations levelled against the AIADMK by Naam Tamilar Katchi for distributing gifts, he said "the AIADMK would have also won if the gifts had been given",
“Various violations reported in the media and video recordings. have been submitted and complaints lodged with the Election Commission,†Palanisamy noted.
In some cases, voters were confined like sheep in shamianas and bars and alleged DMK has won by exploiting the poverty of the people.
Opposition leader Edappadi K Palaniswami while briefing reporters at the Coimbatore airport demanded to know, “Whether it was “Jananayakam†or “Pananayakam†which won in the bypoll?â€.
"The DMK was showering money on the voters every day. All of 30 ministers camped in Erode and spent money and misused their power to ensure the victory of their alliance candidate" he said.
"Since the beginning of the election campaign, the voters have been duped by giving them a token worth Rs 5,000 worth of groceries and chicken meat distributed to every household"
"We have lodged a complaint with the Election Commission and the District Collector about the violations in this election. We also lodged a complaint with the returning officer. But the election authorities did not take any action against the DMK workers who indulged in violations†Edapadi Palanisamy said.
"We canvassed for votes pointing out that they had done well for the people during the AIADMK regime, but the DMK has invested with the money which it earned in the last 22 months and got this victory. Had the elections been held in a democratic manner, the AIADMK would have won†the opposition leader said." he said and added "“No such violations have taken place in any by-election. There is no such historyâ€
“I am saddened to note that despite the DMK indulging in such violations, the media have not highlighted it,†he said.
“We see the results of this by-election as a failure of the Election Commission. Had the Election Commission taken appropriate action, the DMK would not have won. Every day, the DMK tooks away the voters. Our party functionaries could not even see the voters. Local authorities and voters could not be seen either†he said.
When asked about Annamalai's statement that the AIADMK’s defeat was due to the non-merger of AIADMK, he said Annamalai did not say anything like that.
To a question on the allegations levelled against the AIADMK by Naam Tamilar Katchi for distributing gifts, he said "the AIADMK would have also won if the gifts had been given",
“Various violations reported in the media and video recordings. have been submitted and complaints lodged with the Election Commission,†Palanisamy noted.