Vijayakanth offered Rs 500 cr by DMK, minister post by BJP says Vaiko

Madurai: MDMK leader Vaiko on March 25 alleged that the DMK and the BJP had made offers, including money, to DMDK leader Vijayakanth, who had rejected them to join the People's Welfare Front (PWF) to fight the May 16 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

Talking to mediapersons in Madurai, Vaiko claimed the DMK had "offered" 80 (Assembly) seats and Rs 500 crore to Vijayakanth to join its alliance while the BJP had offered him a Rajya Sabha member post and a ministerial berth in the union cabinet.

"Vijayakanth has joined us to form a corruption-free government in Tamil Nadu by rejecting the offers. Vijayakanth has created the confidence that he will provide a corruption- free government. Vijayakanth has rejected the offer of corruption money by DMK to form a corruption-free government," Vaiko alleged.

Reacting to the charge, DMK treasurer MK Stalin said the party would take appropriate legal action in the matter.

"In the first place no talks were held (between DMK and DMDK). How come such a thing could have happened when parleys did not take place," he said.

"Premalatha has replied to this allegation. Still, since Vaiko has levelled a blatantly denigrative charge against the DMK, our party chief Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) would, for sure, take appropriate legal action. Wait and see," Stalin told reporters in reply to questions on the issue.

DMDK leader and Vijayakanth's wife Premalatha refused to be drawn into the controversy.
 
"It is his (Vaiko) opinion. Anything (questions) related to this should be posed to him, we are committed to unseating the AIADMK regime," she told reporters in Tuticorin.
 
Stating that one crore youths who had joined the voters list, wanted a liquor and corruption-free state, Vaiko said, "We are getting more support on the social media."
 
The first election meeting of the PWF will be held in Chennai on April 20.
 
Vaiko said quality education would be provided free of cost, and liquor would be abolished. Besides, the party would write off farm loans and put an end to the unemployment problem, he said.