Left allies accuse ruling TVK of topping cash-for-votes in October 6 bypolls

The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is facing its most damaging charge of the October 6 bypoll campaign — and it has come from its own side of the aisle. The CPI(M) and CPI, the Left parties that provide outside support to the Vijay government, have accused the TVK of distributing money to voters in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, and demanded that the Election Commission take action.

P. Shanmugam, state secretary of the CPI(M), told reporters on Thursday that Left workers visiting villages in Madurantakam to distribute pamphlets were told by residents that everyone else was distributing money to voters. According to Shanmugam, villagers said the ruling TVK was distributing the highest amount among all parties. He urged the Commission to take note of the allegation and seek answers from the parties concerned.

The CPI(M) is contesting Madurantakam and the CPI is contesting Dharapuram, the two reserved Assembly constituencies where polling is scheduled for October 6 and counting for October 9. The seats fell vacant after their sitting AIADMK MLAs resigned and joined the TVK — making the bypolls the first real electoral test of the Vijay government.

Shanmugam contrasted the allegation with Vijay's promise during the April 23 Assembly election, when the TVK leader collected votes pledging that the party was a "pure force" that would not distribute money for votes. "Now this is a confession given by the general public: TVK distributed the most money among everyone," he said. The Left parties have told voters their strength lies in struggles and principles, he added, and neither party would buy votes.

The charge is not coming only from the Left. On Wednesday, AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP and advocate I.S. Inbadurai petitioned the Chief Election Commissioner and Tamil Nadu's Chief Electoral Officer seeking an urgent probe into alleged cash distribution in the two constituencies. His complaint cited media reports that cash was distributed at Rettipalayam in Acharapakkam union on behalf of the TVK to induce voters in favour of candidate Maragatham Kumaravel, and urged field-level inquiries, preservation of CCTV and broadcast evidence, registration of FIRs, and intensified surveillance by flying squads and static surveillance teams.

DMK chief M.K. Stalin has also challenged TVK's "pure force" claim during the bypoll campaign, questioning the new government's record. Whether the Election Commission acts on the cash-for-votes complaints before polling day will test both the Model Code of Conduct under a ruling party that promised clean politics — and the price of a vote in Tamil Nadu.