TN CM, Stalin hit campaign trail in Vellore

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Sunday slammed M K Stalin for blaming the AIADMK for the cancellation of Vellore Lok Sabha elections in April and said it was countermanded after the seizure of huge amount of cash from the houses of "those known" to the DMK chief in the district. Campaigning in the Vellore Lok Sabha constituency, going to polls on August 5, he also accused Stalin of uttering "blatant lie" on the issue.

Palaniswami and Stalin, crisscrossing the constituency in north Tamil Nadu as part of their campaign since Saturday, traded charges on the issue of alleged use of money power for votes. The election to the Vellore seat was earlier scheduled to be held along with the April 18 Lok Sabha polls in the state but the Election Commission canceled it citing seizure of huge amount of cash allegedly from an associate of a DMK leader and later rescheduled it to August 5.

The AIADMK has fielded its ally New Justice Party leader A C Shanmugham as its candidate while the DMK Kathir Anand, the son of DMK leader Durai Murugan. Both were the candidates of the parties earlier too. In his campaign address at K V Kuppam on Sunday, Palaniswami referred to Stalin's speech at a public meeting Saturday and said the DMK leader made a blatant lie that the poll was canceled due to the AIADMK.

"We did not (cancel). Stalin is making a blatant lie. The cash was seized from the houses of those who were known to him. Income Tax department seized a large quantity of cash from the district", Palaniswami charged.

He also said there was no dynasty politics in the AIADMK as a farmer like him can rise to the level of Chief Minister and sought to know whether it was possible in the DMK. "Even the DMK candidate for this Lok Sabha seat is an heir (of DMK Treasurer Duraimurugan). Similarly, after (DMK Patriarch) M Karunanidhi, Stalin and now (his son) Udhayanidhi. Only they can hold top posts," Palaniswami said.

"Aren't there anyone who worked for the welfare party (to hold top posts)?" he asked. Stalin, campaigning in Vaniyampadi, hit back at Palaniswami for raising dynasty politics issue, pointing to Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's son P Ravnidranath getting elected from Theni Lok Sabha seat.

He also pointed to unsuccessful bid by Minister D Jayakumar's son J Jayavardhan and Rajan Sathya, son of former AIADMK Mayor Rajan Chellappa, in the Lok Sabha polls. "We all know how Panneerselvam's son won the Theni district polls. I do not want to discuss that now.", he said...