Debar corrupt nominees: Ponnar

Talking to the media after campaigning for party candidate Gangai Amaran in RK Nagar constituency, where a by-poll would be held on April 12, he said “it is sad to see political parties distributing cash to voters in the presence of police personnel.” 

“Now that the evidences have been made public on such rampant distribution of cash following the I-T raids on the premises of a Minister, the Election Commission should decide whether they should go ahead with the polling process on April 12,” he noted. He also said, “The political parties and their candidates, who lure voters with cash, should be disqualified from contesting the polls. They should also be not allowed to contest in subsequent elections.” 

Asked about Stalin’s demand for a CBI inquiry into the issue, Radhakrishnan said, “An inquiry commission should be set up immediately. They should probe such irregularities right from Thirumangalam by-poll to this by-election in RK Nagar.” BJP state unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan also wondered whether the polling should be held in the wake of large scale distribution of cash to voters at RK Nagar.