Tension as BJP alleges money distribution
Due to lack of evidence no case was filed by police, Cadres recovered Rs 3,000, car used for transport
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-09-15 05:57 GMT
Coimbatore: Tension prevailed when BJP cadres led by its mayoral candidate R. Nandhakumar caught some men distributing money to voters at Housing Unit in the Koundampalayam area on Sunday morning. “Around 10 AIADMK workers in an SUV, were distributing money to the voters. On receiving information from the people, we rushed there and seized around '3,000 and numerous voters’ slips from them. When they began to threaten us, we called the police,” said ‘Kovai’ Sridhar, a BJP functionary.
Thereafter, the Thudiyalur police came to the spot and checked the car for cash. “We did not find any cash and there is no evidence to prove that they were distributing money. Hence, no case has been registered,” said a policeman.
Later, BJP leader and Union minister of state for heavy industries and public enterprises Pon Radhakrishnan urged the Election Commission to cancel the by-poll, alleging unchecked cash flow to voters.
Showing the money seized allegedly from AIADMK men in Koundampalayam, Mr Radhakrishnan told journalists here on Sunday that the AIADMK has been misusing official machinery, besides money and muscle power in the by-elections. “AIADMK men threw down this money on seeing our BJP cadres.
The Election Commission should put off the elections, considering such widespread irregularities as police are not acting upon complaints against the ruling party. The BJP has filed a complaint with the Election Commission in this regard,” he said.
Mr Radhakrishnan made a fervent appeal to all political parties to support his party and ensure a win for its candidate. “The BJP will surely give a stable mayor unlike the AIADMK,” he said.
CPM cadres, led by its mayoral candidate C. Padmanaban and former MP P.R. Natarajan, ghearoed the collector’s camp office in Race Course alleging that the AIADMK has been involved in door-to-door distribution of money. The party also lodged a complaint with the state election commission in this regard.