“Government has begun poll work in Pudukottai”

The government had begun election work in the Pudukottai Assembly constituency though the MLA representing it died only recently and the Election Commission is yet to announce a date for the by-election, DMK president M. Karunanidhi alleged on Monday.

In a statement here, he said that the government had made a special allocation of Rs.50 crore for the constituency and works were reportedly being executed without inviting tenders.

“The government is said to have transferred the District Collector and in his place appointed a pliable officer. Freebies meant for distribution elsewhere have landed in the constituency and pictures of these things have been published in the media,” Mr. Karunanidhi alleged.

The DMK leader said though CPI member S.P. Muthukumaran, who represented the constituency, died only recently and rituals connected with his death were not yet over, a state Minister held a meeting to discuss the distribution of freebies to voters.

Tamil refugees neglected

He also accused the government of neglecting the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees lodged in the Chengalpet special camp, saying none of them was released after the AIADMK government assumed office in 2011.

Mr. Karunanidhi said that the refugees had telephoned him to convey their difficulties and recalled how the DMK government had released 15 of them once in three months.

“There are very few refugees in the camp and they are not being allowed to leave. I hope the government will take steps to release them.”