Thanjavur: PMK youth wing president Dr Anbumani Ramadoss has accused the Election Commission of India, particularly the Chief Electoral Officer in Tamil Nadu, of not acting impartially.

Addressing media persons here today, Dr Anbumani said both the AIADMK and the DMK distributed cash to voters in all the 234 assembly constituencies during the May 16 general assembly elections. “Though I had complained about it to the Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni in person, he did not take any action to curb the money distribution,” he said.

“As the matter was taken to the High Court, the Election Commission countermanded the elections for only two constituencies – Thanjavur and Aravakurichi – while both the AIADMK and the DMK distributed cash to voters in all the 234 constituencies. Even six months after the elections for Thanjavur and Aravakurichi constituencies were countermanded, the Election Commission has not conducted any enquiry in this connection,” Dr Anbumani alleged.

“Both the parties have fielded the same candidates against whom allegations of cash distribution were made. There is no reply from the Election Commission to my question if the situation had now changed,” Dr Anbumani said.

Dr Anbumani also accused Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni of being biased by accepting Jayalalithaa’s thumb impression to file the party’s election papers. “PMK did not contest the by-poll for Thirupparankundram as the Election Commission did not allocate the mango symbol to the party. It is very funny to note that the EC has allotted the mango as PMK’s election symbol in Thanjavur and Aravakurichi constituencies while it refused to allot the same symbol in Thirupparankundram,” he said.

Dr Anbumani said that people were fed up with both the AIADMK and the DMK which are bereft of new ideas and vision but known for corrupt practices. People are now desperate for a change. They are looking for an alternative. We have proved to be a credible alternative to both AIADMK and the DMK, Dr Anbumani said, and appealed to the electorate to vote for PMK in this election.