Chennai:
It's raining money for voters in Tiruchendur in Tamil Nadu. Shortly after Jayalalithaa asked voters to accept money given to them by the DMK ahead of the by polls, her partymen were arrested with 40 lakh rupees in cash, allegedly meant to be distributed to voters.
The accused say it was meant for a land deal although the police aren't buying that explanation.
"It was kept for bribing of voters," said Manika Rao, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tirunelvelli.
This may have caught the AIADMK chief Jayalaltihaa on the wrong foot. A few days ago she had pointed fingers at the ruling DMK for bribing voters and asked voters to accept their cash but to vote for Amma.
She said, "It's only an investment for them to earn manifold after the elections. It is your money. Please accept it, but vote for the AIADMK."
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi, called it a routine song opposition parties sing during elections.
Its not just cash, the election commission says the political parties have become innovative while bribing voters. Now, mobile phones of voters are freely recharged, tokens given for liquor, vouchers that can be redeemed for gifts and even free delivery of milk everyday.
Inspite of all this, there has not been a single conviction in the last four years as the evidence is not forthcoming, said Naresh Gupta, Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil Nadu.
Assembly polls are due in 2011 and both Dravidian parties don't want to be seen on the losing side. With the election commission remaining a mute spectator, the road to democracy is getting all the more tainted in Tamil Nadu.