The AIADMK and the DMK are tapping into the 'Thirumangalam' formula in many pockets of southern districts, the CPI (M) has alleged.
This method of wooing voters derives its name from the Assembly constituency, where during the 2009 by-election the Opposition blamed the ruling DMK and the then Union Minister, M.K. Alagiri, of wooing voters with cash.
Two days ago, a CPI (M) delegation, led by the party’s Madurai candidate B. Vikraman, submitted a memorandum to Collector and Returning Officer L. Subramanian, accusing the two parties of distributing cash to voters through “novel” methods. CPI (M) functionaries say women councillors and sympathisers of the two parties are being used as “carriers” of money that will be delivered in temples, shopping malls, cinema houses and ‘uzhavar sandhai.’ The amount ranges from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 per ration card. Last week, utilising a temple festival in Madurai, a large number of women identified beneficiaries, they say.
Collector’s response Collector L. Subramanian said that through the toll-free number functioning at the election control room, 398 calls had so far been received. The complaints were mostly about money distribution and pasting of posters without permission.
He said that on receipt of a call, officials would alert a flying squad, which would inspect the spot with videographers. “Whenever there was suspicion, the squad would seize the goods. After checks, they would be returned.” Close to Rs. 11 crore, both in cash and goods, had so far been seized and returned.
In the 2011 Assembly elections, officials seized Rs. 3 crore, and nearly 80 per cent of the money belonged to political parties, an official recalled.
