DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Friday said that the State’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) should prevail upon the Election Commission to order a CBI inquiry into the alleged distribution of money to the tune of ₹89 crore to voters in the Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar (R.K. Nagar) Assembly constituency during the byelection (since rescinded) in April.
Recalling CEO Rajesh Lakhoni’s argument in the Madras High Court that it was up to the Commissioner of Police, Chennai City, to complete the investigation and file a final report, Mr. Stalin doubted whether the CEO had given up his constitutional duty. “Since the CEO has taken such a favourable stand, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who should have resigned, is bathing in holy tanks in Mayiladuthurai and polluting them,” he alleged.
Mr. Stalin alleged that the seizure of a document from the house of Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar had exposed the AIADMK government’s plan to distribute ₹4,000 each to voters in R.K. Nagar.
‘Proof of money power’
“The Election Commission used the list as proof to cancel the election and it affected the victory prospects of the DMK. The Election Commission continues to maintain that the circumstances in the constituency are not conducive to hold elections. This explains the money power of the AIADMK government,” he alleged.
Mr. Stalin claimed that Mr. Palaniswami’s name figured in the document seized at Mr. Vijaya Baskar’s house, and that the Income-Tax department had proof that he was entrusted with the task of distributing ₹13.27 crore to the voters to ensure the victory of the then party candidate, T.T.V. Dhinakaran.
“In the country’s political history, it is the first time that a Chief Minister is directly involved in distributing money to voters. But so far, no case has been filed against him,” he said.
Mr. Stalin said that since the State police was unlikely to take action against the Chief Minister, he should resign to pave the way for an independent inquiry. “Otherwise, the CEO should urge the Election Commission to order a CBI probe,” he said.