By-polls: Ramesh Slams CPM Allegation of Bribing Voters
The minister was speaking to mediapersons on the side lines of the inaugural function of the baby shower ceremony (samuthaya valaikappu) for 242 pregnant women, held at Tiruchy on Monday under the leadership of Tiruchy Collector Pratik Tayal
TIRUCHY: HR and CE minister S. Ramesh has challenged the CPI(M) state secretary Shanmugam’s allegation that the ruling TVK distributed money to voters for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram by-elections.
He was speaking to mediapersons on the side lines of the inaugural function of the baby shower ceremony (samuthaya valaikappu) for 242 pregnant women, held at Tiruchy on Monday under the leadership of Tiruchy Collector Pratik Tayal.
Ramesh said the TVK did not contest the Assembly election using money or caste — it trusted the people. They are approaching this by-election with the same integrity, he said.
If anyone has proof that we distributed money or tiffin boxes, go ahead and take action against them. Since we are playing fair, we have nothing to hide, he added.
Ramesh said during the recent Assembly elections, the then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had said the TVK will not win even a single seat. But, today, the TVK is in power. Everyone is making predictions about the by-election also, just like telling fortunes, he said.
The minister said during the Assembly elections, Stalin paralysed the TVK campaigns, so they could not reach out to many places. But now, the TVK was in power and they can campaign everywhere, he said, and added that that was why Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay was visiting even the villages to meet the people.
To a question, he said there was absolute harmony between the new members who joined the TVK from other parties and long-standing members like himself. “We stand completely united. Please refrain from creating unnecessary misunderstandings,” he urged.
Earlier, at the function, there was tension for a while when the Thiruverumbur TVK MLA Navalpattu Viji had heated arguments with the minister. Not noticing Viji standing behind him, the minister handed over the candle to Congress Rajya Sabha member Christopher Tilak to light the kuthuvilakku.
Viji also complained that he was not given importance even when the minister and other dignitaries took a group photograph with the pregnant women.
However, the minister intervened and brought the situation to normal. Following this, Viji and Christopher Tilak shook hands and chatted.
