EC takes cognisance of bribery allegations in RK Nagar bypoll in Chennai: Report

Campaigning for the December 21 bye-election to RK Nagar Assembly constituency ended on Tuesday.

Pic courtesy: PTI (AIADMK women supporters wearing masks embossed with the image of Jayalalithaa)

Chennai: The Election Commission on Tuesday summoned the Tamil Nadu chief election officer (CEO) over an expose on cash allegedly being distributed to voters in RK Nagar, a media report said.

The CEO has been asked to submit a detailed report within two days and action will be decided based on the report, the report further said.

A sting by a TV channel showed that political parties were allegedly giving cash to voters in late Jayalalithaa's constituency, RK Nagar.

AIADMK's circle supervisor from Thanjavur district was caught confessing to paying Rs 6,000 for every assured vote booth in Washermenpet neighbourhood. He also owned up distributing cash during the daytime. 

On the other hand, a DMK booth supervisor at RK Nagar said that they needed to buy about one lakh votes and would give Rs 2,000 per vote. He also admitted that the DMK had given Rs 30 crore to potential voters ahead of the April 2017 bypoll (the April 12, 2017, election to the RK Nagar Assembly constituency was cancelled by the EC over reports of the use of money to influence voters).

Also, Sasikala's nephew TTV Dhinakaran's aide revealed in the sting that they were offering Rs 1,000 more than others.

Meanwhile, campaigning for the December 21, 2017, bypoll came to an end on Tuesday. AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and co-coordinator K Palaniswami, DMK working president MK Stalin and sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran had hit the campaign trail to ensure victory for their respective candidates.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and deputy CM Pannerselvam urged voters to elect Madhusudhnanan to take forward the work initiated by Jayalalithaa.

In a joint statement, the leaders recalled that the late leader served people with a "motherly" attitude and that she had many plans for the constituency as its MLA.

Stalin, on his part, vowed to unravel the 'mystery' behind the late AIADMK supremo's demise and assured to put behind bars those 'found responsible' for her death in the event of DMK coming to power.

Many Opposition parties, including the Congress, the VCK and the Left have backed DMK candidate N Maruthu Ganesh.

Dhinakaran, who fell out of favour with Palaniswami and also lost the battle for the party's 'two leaves' symbol to the latter, is fighting as an independent.

The seat fell vacant after the death of Jayalalithaa. 59 candidates are in the fray. Counting of votes will be taken up on December 24.

(With PTI inputs)