Puducherry: The much anticipated rainfall during the monsoon season never materialized, but it is raining gifts in Puducherry ahead of by-poll in Nellithope constituency in Puducherry.
A few days ago, Congress legislator A. John Kumar had resigned from his post to make way for Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy to contest in the by-poll. The Election Commission is yet to ann-ounce bypoll date.
Meanwhile, voters are being showered with gifts and promises that range from pots and pans to mobile phone with Jio sim card. “We got non-stick pan, electric stove, rice and were also promised mobile phone, money and many more,” said Kamatchi (name changed), a resident of Nellithope.
The most attractive among the offers are mobile phones and government job for each household. The gifts are being distributed under the registered trust of Kumar namely ‘A John Kumar Trust’ and a card had been given to each household in the year 2014 to purchase the gifts each year till 2017.
AIADMK had already sought the intervention of EC in various allegations raised against Mr Kumar and has asked to postpone the election. “AIADMK leaders plan to meet party supremo Ms Jayalalithaa this week and approach EC as per her directions. We demand postponement of bypoll till IT department completes the probe against John Kumar,” AIADMK legislator party leader A. Anbazhagan, told Deccan Chronicle.
“If Narayanasamy had plans to become the Chief Minister he could have contested in elections. People can understand the gimmicks the party is doing to influence voters,” said N.R. Balan, All India NR Congress functionary.
But Congress leader and legislator K. Lakshminarayanan denied all allegations raised against the party and former legislator John Kumar.
