Cash, freebies flow freely in Erode East as election campaign comes to an end

The two main Dravida political parties DMK and the AIADMK are vying with each other to win the Erode East by-election with an array of leaders descending in the constituency during the last day of the election campaign

Chennai, Feb 26 (BPNS)

Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin led the last day’s campaign for the DMK front candidate and senior Congress leader, EVKS Elangovan, and his public statement that women heads of homes would be provided Rs 1000 as honorarium per month in the next budget was questioned by the AIADMK.

I.S. Inbarasu, AIADMK leader and former MLA told media persons that the action of Stalin announcing such a dole during an election campaign was violation of the model code of conduct (MCC) and raised a complaint to the Returning officer of the constituency, R. Sivakumar.

However local people told BPNS that both the Dravidian parties are wooing people by paying for money and gifts. Silver anklets were distributed to people and pressure cookers were also given as gifts to the voters.

People however do not want to be identified as the money and gifts are handed over by local politicians of both parties.

A woman voter told BPNS that a local leader had come to their home two days before and paid Rs 12,000 as they had four votes in their home. The party paid Rs 3000 per vote in a home. The other party also paid Rs 2500 per vote and which amounted to Rs 10,000. However, most of the voters refused to take money from both sides and only rare exceptions had taken money from both parties.

Sources in the DMK told BPNS that the DMK-led front is far ahead of the AIADMK-led front. The leaders showcased the lead of 8904 votes in the 2021 assembly elections to E. Thirumahan Everaa against the Tamil Manila Congress, M. Yuvaraja.

The passing away of E. Thirumahan Everaa has led to the East Erode by-election and with his father EVKS Elangovan contesting the polls, the sympathy factor is likely to work in his favour. The support extended by Tamil superstar Kamal Haasan of his party, the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) has also given a shot in the arm for the DMK front. It is to be noted that MNM garnered 10,000 votes in the 2021 assembly polls.

AIADMK leadership however said that the front will easily win the polls and pointed out the Chief Minister announcing Rs 1000 honorarium to the women heads of families per month in the next budget was an indication that the DMK was rattled with the feedback from the ground.

With silent campaign commencing from now onwards, the election commission has deployed several flying squads to check whether money was changing hands. Sources from Erode East constituency however told IANS that money, liquor, and biriyani were free-flowing in the constituency for wooing the voters in secret places. However, the allegation could not be confirmed.