Tiruvarur bypoll: Stalin says EC acting at Centre’s behest

“The byelections should have been held for all the 20 vacant Assembly seats in one go. But, the ECI announced elections only for the Tiruvarur seat. The ruling party had conspired to win the poll by distributing money,” Stalin claimed.  

He said the ECI had cancelled the Tiruvarur bypoll at the eleventh hour, even before the Supreme Court could deliver its verdict on the appeals made to defer the election.

Attacking the BJP-led Central government, Stalin accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of running a government for the welfare of big corporate companies.

“His government’s policies are destroying fertile lands. The corporates set up their factories on these lands. The State government only aims to remain in power and is ready to do the Centre’s bidding,” he said.

Speaking at the meeting held at a coconut grove, Stalin said the DMK will conduct ‘gram sabha’ meetings across 12,617 panchayats in the State.

“These meetings are aimed at hearing the problems faced by people and looking for possible solutions,” he said.

As many as 16 villagers spoke at the meeting and conveyed their main demands, which included the construction of a public sanitary complex with lavatories and bathrooms, non-distribution of Gaja relief, a bus shelter at Pallivasal street and a new bus stand at Tiruvarur.

Meanwhile, speaking at another meeting in Madhakkottai village on the outskirts of Thanjavur, Stalin said the circumstances behind the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is still mired in mystery.

He said the DMK would investigate into her death if the party comes to power and send those behind her death to jail.

He also said the ‘Sword of Damocles’ has been hanging over the State government as it did not enjoy majority in the Assembly.

“Its numbers have further come down after the conviction of the Hosur MLA,” he pointed out.

“The AIADMK regime is propped up with the support of the Union government and hence acts on its orders,” Stalin added.