The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of engaging in financial inducements to secure alliances and influence voters before the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad stated that formal complaints would be filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for investigations into these alleged transactions. Prasad claimed that the DMK leadership was spending substantial amounts to strengthen its electoral alliances in preparation for the polls.
Allegations include significant financial inducements offered to various alliance partners during negotiations. For instance, the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leadership was allegedly paid ₹150 crore during alliance discussions, while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai were purportedly given ₹300 crore and ₹50 crore, respectively. Prasad emphasized the need for investigative agencies to scrutinize these claims promptly.
The BJP spokesperson called for an examination of the alleged involvement of senior DMK leaders, such as ministers K.N. Nehru and A.V. Velu, in coordinating payments during alliance talks. He urged authorities to assess whether these transactions violated the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Representation of the People Act. Prasad also raised concerns about the visits of Priyank Kharge, Karnataka minister and son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, to Tamil Nadu during alliance discussions, prompting questions about potential links to electoral funding arrangements.
Prasad further alleged the distribution of essential items like groceries, sarees, dhotis, and pressure cookers to voters in different constituencies. He claimed that cash incentives ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹1 lakh were being offered to community leaders and local influencers. Additionally, he stated that around ₹2,000 crore in cash had reportedly been amassed across the state for distribution to voters during the election period. The BJP representative urged the Election Commission to deploy special monitoring teams and flying squads in all districts to prevent the misuse of financial resources during the elections.
