Senior Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Minister KN Nehru can be heard telling Congress candidate EVKS Elangovan about using money and gifts to win the Erode East bypoll. This video was posted on Twitter by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K Annamalai.
The conversation between the two was accidentally picked up on the microphone while another leader was giving a speech.
DMK Minister Nehru stated that money would be distributed by the 31st of January, and that polling officials would be given watches and biryani to ensure that the election went in favour of the DMK-led alliance. He also mentions going to Coimbatore and uses words like ‘settle’ and ‘set right.’
He added that he had already paid the party workers, who would then distribute the money before to February 1st. He further said that he has to arrange 10000 election officers in 31 polling booths, and Thalapathy (MK Stalin) will pay them with watches and biriyani. He can be heard mentioning the name of Excise and Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji.
“Let’s see if Mahesh (Minister Anbil Mahesh) is coming or we ourselves will do it. Nasar is saying he doesn’t need more than 5. He is sad after putting Nasar there. The locals there are majorly Viduthalai Siruthaigal brothers (VCK party). Just check wherever he is missing to give (money). We ourselves will give. At least I will give it off. Even Senthil Balaji (minister) will give,” Nehru said in the video, shared by Annamalai.
In response to the video, Annamalai stated that it demonstrated the DMK’s dependence on money power to win the election. He urged that the Election Commission of India (ECI) investigate into the matter.
DMK faces the election pinning their hopes on money power &
they presume that anything could be bought with money!
If in doubt, check this out! @TNelectionsCEO @ECISVEEP pic.twitter.com/RgVtRUeTS1
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 29, 2023
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