DMK leader Stalin caught on tape bribing voters

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Local Administration Minister and Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) leader MK Stalin has allegedly been caught on tape distributing money to voters ahead of by-elections in Tirumangalam.

Opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which released the video showing Stalin distributing money, has called it a violation of poll code.

Stalin may also face trouble with the state Election Commission over the money distribution.

Both DMK and AIADMK are engaged in a bitter battle for the Tirumangalam constituency near Madurai where by-elections are to be held on January 9.

The video shows Stalin distributing money but the DMK denied it claiming the recording is not recent or from Tirumangalam but a party function.

However, AIADMK maintained that DMK has been involved in bribing voters.

"It is not surprising to hear that Stalin and other DMK ministers have been video taped and caught giving money as enticement to the voters in Tirumangalam constituency. This is how cheap the DMK can get. They give money to voters to win an election,' said AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa.

Earlier, after launching his campaign for the Tirumangalam by-election, Stalin said that all those who did not get the free colour television sets would get them soon.

"We could give only 35,000 TV sets in the first phase. In the second phase we gave 25 lakh TVs. Now we have ordered for 40 lakh TV sets. The tender has been finalised and orders have been placed," Stalin said at Perungudi.

He said Tamil Nadu was the only state to implement programmes like wedding assistance, 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies and assistance of Rs 6,000 for the women before and after delivery.

He claimed that the DMK had implemented the poll promises 100 per cent and was doing more than what was promised.

(With inputs from PTI)

Video - http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/81946/dmk-leader-stalin-caught-on-tape-bribing-voters.html