Vellore elections: Have parties started distributing cash?

As the poll battle becomes a neck-to-neck race, cash distribution, which can turn the voters in favour of a party made its entry on Thursday.

The going rates are Rs 200 per vote paid by DMK cadre and Rs 300 offered by the AIAMDK. Distribution is done openly without any qualms by both sides. When asked about this, party men from both sides only smile and move away.

However, there was some tension for a few minutes near the Government Higher Secondary School in Sathuvachary when police suddenly turned up on Thursday afternoon due to which both the givers and receivers took to their heels. Though the cops managed to nab one party man, they had to let him go as there was no cash with him. The police then left.

Party cadre soon returned and continued from where they left off. As one sarcastic spectator said, “So much for the expenditure observers, flying squads and static surveillance teams meant solely to control such cash disbursal.”