RK Nagar by-polls: Dinakaran-led AIADMK camp distributed money, DMK tells state EC with video evidence
Dinakaran, and the DMK's Maruthu Ganesh, are among the 62 candidates contesting the by-election in former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's constituency.
In Short
- DMK submitted footage of hat-wearing AIADMK cadre allegedly engaging in voter fraud.
- A rival AIADMK faction too told the EC that 'Team Dinakaran' handed out gold coins and money.
- The constituency will elect a new MLA on April 12.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) today complained to the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission that the AIADMK faction led by TTV Dinakaran allegedly distributed money to voters in poll-bound Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar, Puthiya Thalaimurai (PT) reported.
The main Opposition party in the state Assembly, the DMK submitted footage of hat-wearing AIADMK (Amma) cadre allegedly engaging in voter fraud in Jayalalithaa's former constituency, the report said.
The hat is the Dinakaran-led group's new election symbol, which it received last week along with its name, after the Election Commission froze the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (AIADMK) iconic 'twin leaf' symbol.
PANNEERSELVAM CAMP'S ALLEGATIONS
The DMK isn't alone in accusing the AIADMK deputy general secretary's camp of splashing the cash to buy a mandate.
A rival AIADMK faction led by former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, too, has told the Election Commission that 'Team Dinakaran' handed out gold coins and money to RK Nagar voters, the PT report said.
In fact, they asked the poll panel to dispatch central paramilitary forces to Chennai for the by-election to - as Rajya Sabha MP V Maithreyan put it - "avoid use of muscle or money."
The Panneerselvam camp, named AIADMK Puratchi Thalavai Amma, split from the party in February after then-Chief Minister 'OPS' rebelled when Dinakaran's aunt VK Sasikala was named his successor.
Panneerselvam's candidate for the by-polls is E Madhusudhanan, a former party Presidium Chairman who joined 'Team OPS' during the weeks of political turmoil that followed the chief minister's decision to oppose Sasikala.
Sasikala, a former Jayalalithaa aide who is still the general secretary of the AIADMK, is an inmate in a Bengaluru jail.
Convicted by the Supreme Court in a disproportionate assets case in which Jayalalithaa was also named, 'Chinnamma' surrendered in February.
Her nephew Dinakaran, Madhusudhanan, and the DMK's Maruthu Ganesh, will face off against 59 other candidates - of which 51 are independents - in the RK Nagar polls.
The constituency will elect a new MLA on April 12. Votes will be counted on April 15.
With inputs from PTI
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