A woman walks in front of a poster of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa
Three major political parties in Tamil Nadu today chanted in chorus that the ruling AIADMK was misusing official machinery to distribute cash and urged the Election Commission (EC) to check the poll malpractice.
The day-long meeting the Election Commission held in Chennai with registered political parties to review poll preparations witnessed sparks as the opposition DMK, Congress and Left parties alleged that the Jayalalithaa-led state government was distributing cash with the help of police and revenue officials at night.
The political outfits expressed their anguish over the 'misuse' of authority by AIADMK to Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath and urged that stringent measures be taken to check cash flow in the April 24 polls.
DMK Organisation Secretary P V Kalyanasundaram, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said his party had given details of distribution of cash to voters and also over the personalised attack by AIADMK against DMK leaders.
He said the DMK also submitted a complaint to Sampath, outlining poll malpractices indulged in by the ruling party, including giving away cash to labourers while distributing wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act programme.
The DMK also requested the EC to seal all illegal mines and minerals operating in Tamil Nadu as members of AIADMK party distribute money to voters through the illegal mines and minerals quarry operators in their respective areas.
He said checks of vehicles across various parts of the state should be done "impartially" and in the presence of election officials.
Congress leader Peter Alphonse urged the EC to probe the source of funding on the purchase of liquor by AIADMK.
"Through various reports I have received in the last four days, there has been an increase of sales liquor by up to five per cent, that is about an excess of Rs 14 crore. We have
asked them (EC) about from where this much money is pouring in," he said.
The Left parties also urged the Commission to take up preventive measures on the distribution of cash to voters.
Thirty nine Lok Sabha constituencies will go to polls on April 24.
While the DMK is fighting the election with smaller parties like Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Indian Union Muslim League and Puthiya Tamilagam, the Congress is waging a lone battle and Left parties are supporting each other in 18 seats, where they have fielded candidates after the AIADMK dumped them following differences over seat allotment.