Allies in TVK's star list: Congress, VCK either lost identity or merged with ruling party, says DMK

CHENNAI: Ruling TVK is now under fire from the main opposition DMK and the BJP for naming leaders from newfound allies in its star campaigner list submitted to the Election Commission for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls.

After the AIADMK questioned the legitimacy of such a demand, the DMK and the saffron party have sought clarification from Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik over its legality.

DMK organising secretary and former MP RS Bharathi, after meeting Patnaik on Monday, questioned the inclusion of Congress MP Manickam Tagore, VCK leaders Thol Thirumavalavan and Vanni Arasu, MDMK leaders Vaiko and Durai Vaiko and IUML leader Kader Mohideen in the TVK star campaigner list.

"Have the Congress and VCK lost their recognised-party status, or have they joined the TVK?" he asked, questioning the basis on which leaders of other parties had been included in the ruling party's list. He also urged the EC to take campaign expenditure incurred by such leaders in the candidates' election expenses, wherever applicable.

Bharathi also questioned the deployment of police personnel for candidates, alleging that the security arrangements were intended to address opposition faced by TVK nominees. He said the DMK did not require such protection.

He alleged that the bypolls were necessitated by the purchase of two MLAs and claimed that Congress leaders had been brought into the TVK fold after being offered ministerial berths.

Bharathi said DMK president MK Stalin's campaign schedule would be announced in the next two or three days.

BJP state secretary 'Karate' R Thiagarajan has also sought clarification from the poll panel on the issue.