Urban local body polls: BJP MLA alleges widespread distribution of cash for votes in Coimbatore

Vanathi Srinivasan said BJP cadre had caught two persons red-handed as they were distributing cash; urged the TNSEC to crack down on the problem

Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan on Wednesday alleged widespread distribution of cash for voters across Coimbatore, ahead of the urban local body elections, and accused the State Election Commission of not cracking down on those distributing cash.

Speaking to journalists in Coimbatore, she alleged that “outsiders” from Karur district have been engaged in distributing cash to voters across the city. She claimed that the BJP cadre “caught two persons red-handed” at Ward No. 70 on Tuesday and handed them over to the authorities. “The State Election Commission must take steps to remove the persons from Karur district from Coimbatore,” Ms. Vanathi urged.

Claiming that the DMK has been approaching the urban local body elections as an “issue of honour” after losing in all 10 Assembly constituencies of Coimbatore district in the 2021 Assembly election, she appealed to the voters to ensure that the “anti-DMK mentality” reflected in the votes across the district.