Chennai: A day before the bypolls, DMK and TVK traded barbs accusing each other of violating the poll code.Speaking to reporters in Chennai, DMK’s Madurantakam candidate I Paranthamen raked up a complaint of horse-trading against TVK and demanded action against chief minister C Joseph Vijay. Meanwhile, former DMK minister V Senthilbalaji posted pictures of a sari and a lamp on his X handle and alleged that they were being distributed to voters in Dharapuram. While TVK denied the gift distribution charge, the party lodged a complaint against Paranthamen to Election Commission of India, alleging that DMK was ‘campaigning’ during the silent period and making baseless allegations against Vijay. In its complaint submitted to chief electoral officer Archana Patnaik, TVK also sought the disqualification of Paranthamen’s candidature, alleging that he had attempted to “illegally influence” voters in Madurantakam.Paranthamen said that two MDMK MLAs elected on the DMK symbol — T M Rajendran of Kadayanallur and R Senthil Selvan of Sirkazhi — had lodged separate complaints against Vijay to Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) on Oct 1. The complaint alleged that CM sought to lure the two and wanted them to resign from the assembly. But no action had been taken on the complaint so far, said Paranthamen. “If DVAC fails to register a case against Vijay, DMK will initiate legal action against him,” he said. He further alleged that TVK minister Aadhav Arjuna, MDMK general secretary Vaiko and his son Durai Vaiko were a part of the horse-trading attempt.Countering the charge, TVK legal wing representatives said they had petitioned CEO against Paranthamen for “attempting to influence voters through illegal means”. The complaint from Aadhav asked ECI to disqualify Paranthamen’s candidature and said he shouldn’t be allowed into Madurantakam constituency until the counting was over. “The CEO assured of appropriate action,” said a TVK functionary.TVK functionaries denied Senthilbalaji’s voter-bribing charges. The former DMK minister said voters in booth No. 30 of Manoorpalayam in Kundadam west union of Dharapuram assembly segment were given gifts. TVK dismissed the charge, stating that this “false campaign” was a last-minute attempt by DMK to damage the reputation of TVK.
