Karuna expresses concern over misuse of poll machinery

Chennai: DMK president M Karunanidhi rounded off his campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu with criticism of some officials of the State election department, charging them with working for the ruling AIADMK.

Concluding his campaign at Chepauk, Karunanidhi said he was deeply disappointed with the official machinery in the state and added that party cadre was losing faith in the state election apparatus.

There were doubts that free and fair elections could not be held, he said.

He charged that the State was moving from democracy to authoritarianism and blamed some officials for it.

Karunanidhi urged the people to vote for the DMK candidates in Chennai -- Dayanidhi Maran (Central Chennai), R. Girirajan (North Chennai) and T.K.S. Elangovan (South Chennai).

Karunanidhi said distribution of cash and freebies by the AIADMK going on without any restriction.

The election department was failing in its duty to ensure a free and fair poll, he added.

In the pasat, leaders like K Kamaraj, Rajaji and Anna had even occasionally lost elections but took them in the right spirit and believed that the poll process should be absolutely fair. However, now he felt there was a sharp decline and a stage would come when rulers and people's representatives would be anointed. Elections could be held in party offices and the people could be asked to collect cash and freebies from party offices, he added.

Karunanidhi pointed out that he had participated in twelve elections to the Tamil Nadu ASssembly and had won all of them.

Karunanidhi recalled the wise words of late C N Annadurai that, “Irrespective of one’s 'selvakku' (which means influence as well as affluence), electoral victory should be through “sellum vakku” (valid votes)," achieved through integrity and therein lied real victory.