Refuting reports of ‘cash-for-seat’ for the April 13 assembly polls, CPI’s Tamil Nadu unit today warned of legal action against a former party functionary who had alleged that party had received money from a candidate contesting from Thalli constituency.
“P Nagaraja Reddy, who has since been expelled from the party, had made such claims as he was denied a ticket to contest the elections from Thalli. We have a strict set of rules for selection of candidates which has been religiously adhered to,” CPI state unit secretary D Pandian told reporters in Chennai.
Mr. Reddy, till recently CPI’s Krishnagiri district secretary, had alleged that the party had received money from the Thalli candidate, sitting MLA Ramachandran, to nominate him again.
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Mr. Pandian, whose party is a constituent of the AIADMK-led alliance, said CPI will demand an apology from certain sections of the media for airing Mr. Reddy’s claims, failing which legal action would be initiated against them.
On the elections and promises of freebies from both DMK and AIADMK, he said “they are like taking money from one pocket and putting it in the other.”
“The debts due to DMK’s schemes like Colour TV scheme is huge and the next government has to bear the brunt of it by paying the interest,” he said.
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He welcomed provisions announced in AIADMK manifesto such as nationalisation of cable TV industry.
To a question on the possibility of a coalition government after the elections, he said only the situation at that time will decide that.
He claimed that AIADMK will come to power but indicated his party may not join a coalition government if there would be one.
The CPI is contesting from 10 seats.