TN Bypolls: Left flags cash-for-votes; seeks EC probe into TVK role

CHENNAI: CPM state secretary P Shanmugam on Thursday alleged that political parties were distributing cash to voters ahead of the Oct 6 bypolls in Tamil Nadu, claiming that villagers had told Left front campaigners that the ruling TVK was paying more money than other parties do. He demanded that the Election Commission look into the “confessional statement of the voters” and that political party leaders respond to the issue.Shanmugam said the widespread distribution of cash came to light when Left front leaders and cadres visited villages in Madurantakam assembly constituency to distribute pamphlets explaining why voters should support their candidates in the bypolls. "Villagers told us that all political parties were distributing cash for votes, with the ruling TVK paying the highest amount.