Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) Apr 23: Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Thursday alleged that massive electoral malpractices were taking place in the state Assembly elections and criticised the Election Commission for failing to provide adequate transport facilities for voters.
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at a polling station in the Goundampalayam constituency, the BJP leader claimed that money and gold were being distributed brazenly to influence the electorate.
“House to house, four people are walking and giving Rs 5,000 for one vote. In the Karur Assembly constituency, they are boldly going and giving a half-gram gold coin to a voter. All of this didn’t happen in a single day. This money has come from somewhere. It has been hidden somewhere. They have micro-managed it somewhere,” Annamalai said.
He further noted that similar cash distributions had been reported within Coimbatore over the last few days, which he said had disturbed the sanctity of the polling process.
The BJP leader also lashed out at the authorities over logistical failures, citing a severe shortage of bus services that prevented voters from reaching their home districts.
He said he had received numerous complaints from the public and youth regarding the lack of adequate government and private buses for those travelling from Chennai to southern Tamil Nadu.
“Many of our voters, party members, neutral observers, and the youth have been raising this as a major complaint since yesterday. For instance, a bus that left Chennai last night was expected to reach Ramanathapuram only at 6 pm or 6.30 pm this evening,” Annamalai said.
He added that the Election Commission could have handled this better in Tamil Nadu.
“They should have taken the Transport Department into their hands, issued instructions, and checked if there were adequate buses to ensure a smooth flow,” Annamalai said.
While noting that Tamil Nadu is generally a peaceful state with approximately 84,000 police personnel deployed for the single-phase polls, Annamalai remarked that the Election Commission should have performed its duties much better.
He urged the commission to take control of the remaining polling hours to ensure all citizens could exercise their franchise.
Despite the complaints, he expressed confidence that the over 5.6 crore voters in the state would look beyond these inducements and vote according to their conscience for a change in the state.
Polling for the election to 234 Assembly seats was underway across Tamil Nadu on Thursday
