The Election Commission should get tougher to weed out the use of money to buy votes, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said here on Wednesday.
Referring to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi complaining of an undeclared emergency in the State, citing the measures adopted by election officials, Mr. Karat told journalists: “I do not understand the Chief Minister saying that there is an emergency situation. It is good that the Election Commission has taken some measures to curb the use of money. But, we need more stringent measures. The seizure of a huge amount of cash [from a bus] in Tiruchi reveals that the problem has not been fully curbed yet.”
Mr. Karat said that over the last two days of his campaign in the State, he saw a strong current of change. “I find that the people of Tamil Nadu are very much concerned about rising prices of essential commodities and the gross corruption and misrule of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.”
Mr. Karat was here to address an election meeting along with All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa, Communist Party of India general secretary A.B. Bardhan and Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu.
On whether a hung Assembly in Tamil Nadu would see the CPI (M) demand a share of power, Mr. Karat said he was confident that a decisive win would help avoid such a situation.
The Left Democratic Front was confident of retaining power in Kerala. Its campaign centred round the price rise caused by the Central government's policies and how the Front's government in Kerala had done everything possible to minimise its impact on the people.
The Left Front has gained ground in West Bengal. Problems at the organisational level in the CPI (M) and the government had been identified after the results of the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and the subsequent local body polls. “All these have been rectified and we are confident of doing well.”
Mr. Karat termed the Central Bureau of Investigation charge sheet on the 2G spectrum scam incomplete.
“The CBI says it will come out with a supplementary charge sheet. We do not understand why it has to wait till the elections are over in Tamil Nadu. It is important that the money trail in the scam is exposed,” Mr. Karat said.
The Centre must halt all new nuclear projects and constitute an independent committee to review safety in the existing plants, Mr. Karat said.
Support for Hazare
Supporting social activist Anna Hazare's fast for a people's bill to stop corruption and punish the corrupt, Mr. Karat wanted all parties and organisations representing various sections of the people to be consulted while a draft bill was prepared.
