TN: CPM leader flays Karuna for attacking EC

Madurai: Slamming Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for his attacks on Election Commission, CPM Central Committee member T K 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 in Madurai late on Sunday 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 Tamil Nadu 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 CPM leader also wondered why should Alagiri seek anticipatory bail in the case relating to alleged assault of an election official in the district.