Stalin to EC: Hold bypolls for 21 seats

Asking the Commission to not yield to the pressure from the ruling BJP, Stalin asked the EC to exercise the constitutionally guaranteed freedom and conduct elections to the 21 seats along with the Parliamentary polls.

Should it yield to the compulsions of the BJP, the EC would script a dark chapter of committing a historic blunder in the country, Stalin who is also the Leader of Opposition remarked.

He also accused the ruling BJP of attempting to delay the bypolls to keep its ‘partner’ AIADMK in power. Claiming that the ruling BJP has reportedly guaranteed to the AIADMK to defer the 21 seat by-elections in return for alliance in the state for the Lok Sabha polls, the DMK president said that it was shameful to note that the ruling BJP has attempted to cover up the corruptions against the AIADMK Ministers and push national welfare to the back seat for petty electoral gains.

Noting that about 18 constituencies were vacant for over 15 months and Hosur seat vacated by disqualified minister Balakrishna Reddy has not been declared vacant till now, Stalin accused the BJP of mounting enormous pressure on the EC not to declare Hosur vacant in gross violation of the Supreme Court verdict.

Stalin said the BJP has put to cold storage the I-T crackdown on Ministers only to intimidate the CM for electoral gains.