DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Monday demanded that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and other ministers arraigned in the case involving alleged attempt to bribe voters of Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency should step down immediately to ensure fair investigation.
Earlier, responding to a query filed under the RTI Act on the proposed action against the Chief Minister, his five cabinet colleagues and ruling party’s deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, the Election Commission had said that it had directed registration of an FIR.
Mr. Stalin said when he raised the issue in the Assembly, the Chief Minister merely responded saying a probe had been ordered. “I raised specific questions, but the Chief Minister did not share the details and his response is not satisfactory,” he told journalists after staging a walkout from the Assembly.
The DMK leader said that with the police functioning under the Chief Minister, a fair probe can’t be expected. “Therefore, I urge them to step down,” he said.
Asked about the Speaker’s remark that the Election Commission had not mentioned any names, Mr. Stalin said his party raised issues seeking specific details of the case but there was an attempt to brush it aside.
Asked about Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan’s comment on whether DMK will survive the next election, the DMK leader said it is for the people to decide.