Tamil Nadu is getting ready for a coalition government, CPI national secretary D. Raja contended on Sunday.
Addressing reporters here, he said the people of the State took electoral decisions based on politics and policies than for monetary gain, though Tamil Nadu was admittedly one of the States where money plays a big role during elections.
“The Election Commission is seizing a lot of money. But what action has been taken? It is important for the EC to conduct free and fair elections. It is imperative for the Commission to say what is being done,” Mr. Raja said.
He also said there is a lack of political will to implement State funding of elections, which could bring down corruption in electoral politics.
Taking a dig at the Central government, Mr. Raja said “slogans…Make in India, Stand up India, acche din aanewale hain are just a rhetoric. On ground, the economy was in a very bad shape. The promised black money has not come. On the other hand, there are the Panama Papers”.
He said the Centre was changing all labour laws in the garb of reforms to please corporates.
Joining issue with Union Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya’s statement that labour unions were politically motivated, Mr. Raja said even the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh had been part of agitations when it came to labour welfare.
“Unions too have their own politics. But when you change labour laws that will affect lakhs of workers, no union will accept it. If this is politics, we support such politics,” he added.
‘The poll panel is seizing a lot of money. But what action has been taken?’
