Vellore Cancelled: Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu’s Vellore cancelled after cash seizure
In a first, polling to a Lok Sabha constituency has been cancelled.
President Ram Nath Kovind on April 16 cancelled the elections to the Vellore parliamentary constituency in Tamil Nadu, based on the recommendation made by the Election Commission (EC).
The EC’s move followed seizure of about Rs 12 crore in cash from a DMK leader’s associate in raids.
The EC statement said, “Accepting the recommendation of the Election Commission dated 14th April 2019, President has rescinded the election to Vellore parliamentary constituency, Tamil Nadu.”
This is the first time that an election to a Lok Sabha constituency has been cancelled.
The DMK, which is being accused of distributing cash in the constituency, is not taking the allegation or the cancellation of the polls lightly though — DMK treasurer Duraimurugan, whose son DM Kathir Anand is the candidate from Vellore, has called the decision, “Murder of democracy; it is done to intimidate the opposition parties.”
Post the Income Tax raids and cancellation of polls, DMK chief MK Stalin was quick to raise questions on the functioning of the EC, “Who is the EC trying to satisfy by these actions?”
Cash for votes common in TN
This is not the first time that the state has been facing allegations of cash for votes. In 2016, during the Assembly elections, the EC had cancelled polls to Thanjavur and Aravakurichi over allegations of money power being used to influence voters. Similarly, in 2017, the by-election to the RK Nagar constituency was cancelled after allegations of cash for votes.
DMK ups the ante
Meanwhile, Kathir Anand has sent a notice to the EC, demanding that the election in Vellore be conducted as per schedule — or the party will move court. The election in Vellore was scheduled for April 18.
In his letter to the chief election commissioner, Sunil Arora, Kathir wrote that the elections must be conducted as there were no incriminating documents or unaccounted money found from his residence or his mother’s residence.
He wrote, “This cancellation of election at Vellore and the I-T raids all look like an exercise to favour the BJP-AIADMK alliance.”
Demanding that the elections be conducted as per the schedule, he added that if the elections are not conducted, then he would move “legal action and also claim damages.”
Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami also requested the EC to reconsider the decision — he further requested that the EC disqualify the candidate who is allegedly involved in the ‘cash for votes’ allegation alone and conduct the election.
How it all began
Based on information given by the district electoral officer of Vellore, I-T raids were conducted at the residence of DMK treasurer Duraimurugan on March 30 and on April 1. Raids were also conducted in cement godowns reportedly belonging to a DMK functionary.
Shockingly, the I-T sleuths seized over Rs 11 crore in cash that was apparently stashed in cartons, gunny sacks and shopping bags.
Based on the recovery, on April 8, an FIR was filed against Kathir Anand and two of his team members — Poonjolai Srinivasan, a local DMK functionary, and a man named Damodaran, who apparently owns the cement godown.