MK Stalin alleges conspiracy to countermand bypolls, says there will regime change
Chennai: DMK chief M.K. Stalin has said that he suspected a “conspiracy” to countermand by-polls to two Assembly constituencies in Vellore Lok Sabha segment, in the wake of recent I-T raids. He also claimed there will be regime change at the Centre eventually leading to a change of guard at the State too.
Raids on the premises of party treasurer Duraimurugan in Vellore district on Saturday were part of a plan to prevent the candidate from campaigning, he told a massive gathering in Perumanallur in Tirupur about 465 km from here while campaigning for CPI candidate K. Subbarayan. Reports reaching him suggested that plans were on to countermand the by-elections to Ambur and Gudiyattam so that the ruling AIADMK could continue to govern, he alleged.
Duraimurugan’s son Kathir Anand is contesting from the Vellore Lok Sabha constituency. Also, on Monday, the Income Tax officials seized unspecified amount of cash from a cement godown allegedly belonging to a DMK leader in Vellore district near here. Officials suspect the cash was meant to be distributed to the voters in Vellore for this April 18 Lok Sabha election.
Stalin said he doubted whether those who conducted the raids brought the huge sum of money themselves and later announced that they had recovered crores of rupees from two premises, including a cement godown.
Further, the DMK chief sought to know why polls to the Assembly constituencies of Tirupparankundram, Aravakurichi and Ottapidaram) and now vacant Sulur constituency were not announced.
He said there would be a change of government in Tamil Nadu immediately after a regime change at the Centre post Lok Sabha polls. “One thing is sure. Soon after a change of government at the Centre, there will be a change of government in the State. Then the problems of people will be sorted out,” the leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu Assembly said.
He also announced waiver of gold loans, taken by landless farmers from cooperative and public sector banks, would be added to the party manifesto. “The DMK will waive off gold loans for upto 40 grams availed by landless farmers and agricultural labourers, when the party comes to power,” he added.
