Madurai: Slamming Chief Minister M Karunanidhi
for his attacks on Election Commission, CPI-M Central
Committee member TK Rangarajan on Monday said continuing seizures
of money allegedly meant for voters only exposed DMK`s designs
to "demolish democracy" and asked the poll body to further
tighten its vigil.
The seizure of Rs 20 lakh from the house of a DMK volunteer
here late last night proved that the ruling party was still
bent on using money power to win the elections. "The EC should
further tighten the grip as the DMK was trying to demolish
democracy itself," he told reporters.
In a veiled attack on Alagiri, he said the EC was
aggressive in Madurai region because those who "believed in muscle and
money power" were leading the DMK election campaign for the
April 13 assembly elections. All this had been conveyed to the
Election Commission, he added.
Criticising Karunanidhi for his repeated attacks on the
election commission for its measures to check use of money
power, Rangarajan said, "The EC is only implementing the rules
and regulations strictly...How can the Chief Minister say it
is ruling the state?".
He was referring to Karunanidhi`s remarks on Saturday at an
election meeting in Vellore wondering whether it was he or the
poll panel that was ruling the state.
Hitting out at Karunanidhi for stating that an emergency
like situation prevailed in the state, Rangarajan said, "It is
not undeclared emergency period in Tamilnadu..it is only bad
time for the Chief Minister. The only remedy for Karunanidhi
is to face the election democratically and not with money."
He also sought to know the response of Karunanidhi to the
chargesheeting of former union minister and DMK Propaganda
Secretary A.Raja in the 2G spectrum scam.
"Raja is facing serious charges including cheating,
forgery, criminal misconduct and impersonation. What is the
Chief Minister`s reply to CBI`s charge sheet?" he asked.
The CPI-M leader also wondered why should Alagiri seek
anticipatory bail in the case relating to alleged assault of
an election official in the district.
PTI
