#cash-for-votes

Voters queue at a polling booth in Tamil Nadu (file photo)

Sarees, lamps and biryani: DMK posts photos accusing TVK of bribing Dharapuram voters on poll eve

On the eve of polling, DMK leader Senthil Balaji posted photographs alleging that TVK workers are distributing sarees and lamps and serving biryani to Dharapuram voters. CPI and CPI(M) have separately raised cash-for-vote charges against the ruling TVK ahead of the October 6 bypolls.

5 October 2026 · 2 min read

Indian 200-rupee banknotes (illustrative image)

Opinion

The envelope does not care about the pure force

When the Left parties that prop up the TVK government accuse it of leading cash-for-votes, the "pure force" promise dies in daylight. The problem is not one party; it is a democracy where a vote has a price and the poor are always the sellers.

3 October 2026 · 2 min read

Voters queueing outside a polling booth (representative image)

Tamil Nadu

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

CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam alleged the TVK distributed the most money among all parties in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, and demanded EC action. The AIADMK has separately petitioned the Commission over alleged cash distribution for the TVK candidate.

3 October 2026 · 2 min read

Voters show their ink-marked fingers after casting votes

Opinion

'Pure force'? The bypolls are auctioning TVK's promise of change

The party elected as a 'pure force' against money politics now stands accused — by its own Left allies — of topping cash distribution in the October 6 bypolls. On Madurantakam and Dharapuram, manufactured elections, and the auction of a promise.

2 October 2026 · 2 min read

Voters standing in a queue at a polling booth

Tamil Nadu

Left parties accuse TVK of topping cash-for-votes in Oct 6 bypolls, demand EC action

CPI(M) leader P. Shanmugam says Madurantakam villagers told Left campaigners 'everyone else is distributing money while we are giving only pamphlets' — with the ruling TVK distributing the most. The AIADMK has petitioned the EC alleging cash-for-votes in the October 6 bypolls.

2 October 2026 · 2 min read