Cash-for-votes row: AIADMK hints at legal action against DMK

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Apr. 13 (ANI): The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Thursday hinted at legal action against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for making false allegations of bribing the voters ahead of the by-polls in R.K. Nagar assembly constituency. The AIADMK's reaction came a day after a team of three leaders from the DMK met Tamil Nadu Governor C. Vidyasagar Rao in Mumbai and demanded the removal of Chief Minister E. Palaniswami and five other ministers, after tax officials claimed they had found documents in raids last week that allegedly reveal their involvement in what is being called the cash for votes scandal. "Our Governor Vidyasagar Rao is a neutral man. Even for the vote of confidence in the assembly, he has taken the right action. While DMK is an opposition party, they blame us for every action either taken or not taken they will soon face the issue legally," said AIADMK general secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran. The AIADMK leader also taunted DMK's general secretary Durai Murugan, Dinakaran over his recent assertion that there will be a general election in January. "It's their assumptions. It will not happen," said Dinakaran. Dinakaran, who is the nephew of jailed AIADMK Amma chief VK Sasikala, had earlier alleged that the documents released by the IT department are forged and their authenticity is a question. Earlier this week, the by-polls in RK Nagar was cancelled after the Income Tax raid found that money was distributed to the voters. The Election Commission said that the by-elections shall be held by the poll panel in due course when the vitiating effect created by the distribution of money and gift items to allure the electors gets removed with the passage of time and the atmosphere in the constituency becomes conducive to the holding of free and fair election. The by-elections in R.K. Nagar became necessary after the death of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, who represented it for two terms. The Income Tax officials raided several premises belonging to Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, his relatives in Chennai and other districts in the wake of complaints that he was involved in cash distribution to the voters in the R.K. Nagar constituency ahead of the by-polls. (ANI)