Seeking prompt action by the Election Commission, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi today alleged that the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was distributing money to voters in bypoll-bound Srirangam assembly constituency.

“Money has been distributed by the ruling party to voters last night... The district administration, the police and the Election Commission have joined hands and have done this,” Karunanidhi alleged in a statement.

Though the Chief Electoral Officer intended to conduct a fair election, the second-level officers posted in Srirangam were acting on the wishes of the ruling party, the DMK patriarch alleged.

Referring to media reports, which said workers of other parties were attacked by the ruling party cadres, he said, “I condemn the anti-democratic act of distributing money to voters and attacking other party workers on behalf of the DMK and insist the EC to protect the ideals of democracy promptly.”

AIADMK, DMK and BJP are among the 29 contestants in the fray for the bypoll to Srirangam assembly constituency scheduled on February 13, while Congress chose not to contest as well as not to support any party.

The bypoll was necessitated following the conviction of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa in a disproportionate assets case by a special court in Bengaluru on September 27 last year.

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), the NDA-ally in Tamil Nadu, too condemned the alleged attack on BJP and CPI (M) candidates in Srirangam and demanded that the AIADMK workers involved in the act be arrested immediately.

“Both the DMK, while it was in rule, and the AIADMK, at present in power, are making a mockery of democracy by distributing money, freebies and liquor during bypoll. The situation is such that people have lost faith in elections and the Election Commission,” DMDK founder and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Vijayakant said.

He urged the EC to implement strict rules to crush the malpractice in elections with an “iron fist”.

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