Chennai: Amidst allegations of large-scale money distribution by Dravidian majors, the BJP leaders and cadres preferred to vote and some of the leaders exercised their franchise during the Rahu kalam.
Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping Pon Radhakrishnan accused both the Dravidian parties of lowering the dignity of the voters by bribing. He contended that the election commission’s decision to defer elections in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur, citing massive distribution of cash to voters, was illogical especially when the situation prevailing in whole of Tamil Nadu was similar to those two Assembly constituencies.
“At least, the election commission should take steps to hold election in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur before the counting of votes is taken for the state on May 19,” he said emerging out of the polling booth after casting his vote at a booth in Duthie Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Nagercoil.
“Let the election commission first declare the candidates (involved in distributing cash to voters) as unqualified and hold the election again,” BJP national executive member L. Ganesan said after casting his vote.
Party’s sate president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said she refused to accept that irregularities had happened only in two constituencies when such was the case throughout the state.
“Are not the candidates who distributed money going to fight polls again?” she asked. In a brief chat with reporters after casting her vote in Saligramam, here, she said candidates in those constituencies should be disqualified. Polls could be held even after a month in those constituencies after announcing fresh candidates, she added.
