RK Nagar: 3 DMK men stabbed; BJP, PMK call to defer by-poll

Three DMK members were allegedly stabbed by those owing allegiance to AIADMK Amma group at RK Nagar constituency which is facing by-election on April 12.

Around Rs 15 lakh was seized and 28 persons were arrested on Wednesday for their alleged roles in various incidents of money distribution to voters and violence in the run up to the bypoll.

The day also saw the Election Commission ordering transfer of 22 police officials, including two IPS officers, out of R K Nagar even as the opposition parties lodged complaints with Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni against the alleged distribution of money to voters by the AIADMK's TTV Dinakaran faction.

Leaders of AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) – Rajya Sabha MP V. Maitreyan, former Minister K.P. Munusamy, former MP Manoj Pandian alleged that the AIADMK (Amma) was still using the frozen ‘Two Leaves’ symbol on its website and urged the Commission to take action against the faction.

BJP State president Tamilisai Soundararajan alleged that money was being distributed by both factions of the AIADMK and the DMK.

“Despite historical measures by the Election Commission, money distribution goes unabated in RK Nagar. The two factions of AIADMK and DMK are engaged in the act. If election can’t be conducted in a fair manner, let it be postponed,” she stated.

DMK MP R.S. Bharathi and Legal Wing Secretary R. Girirajan alleged that money was being widely distributed to votersin R.K. Nagar by AIADMK (Amma) and AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) functionaries and claimed that police officers were not acting on complaints filed.

PMK founder S Ramadoss too has backed BJP’s demand to postpone the bypoll. In a statement, he said, “There are 100-fold reasons to defer this by-election. The two factions of AIADMK and DMK have been distributing money to garner votes. Violence was reported in a few places where cash distribution was on."