Following the cancellation of the by-polls in Chennai's R.K. Nagar constituency, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Monday demanded the dismissal of Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led Tamil Nadu Government and immediate action against the culprits.
"There was support of the police to the ruling faction of the AIADMK. They distributed the money with the aid of the police. The Chief Minister was also used to distribute the money. The DMK would have easily won these elections. This incumbent government should be dismissed," DMK leader T.K.S. Elangovan told ANI.
The elections were earlier scheduled to be held on Wednesday.
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 Election Commission has taken the decision. They should have been much more vigilant earlier because a lot of money has already been distributed. It is very clear that the ruling party was involved in such things. It is a very big disgrace to the state of Tamil Nadu and immediate action should be taken on the minister because even the Chief Minister was also used to distribute money," said another DMK leader T. Siva.
The Election Commission's decision came after Income Tax raids in Chennai found that money was distributed to the voters.
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The by-elections in R.K. Nagar became necessary after the death of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, who represented it for two terms.
Earlier on Friday, the Income Tax officials raided several premises belonging to Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar and 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 April 12 by-polls.
The Income Tax (IT) authorities have issued summons to Vijayabaskar to appear before them today in connection with the raid on his premises on Friday.
The IT department also conducted searches on the premises of actor and All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi leader R. Sarathkumar, former AIADMK legislator Chitlapakkam Rajendran and vice-chancellor of Dr MGR Medical University S. Geethalakshmi.
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