Aiming high on Assembly, MNM skips LS poll

In a statement issued here, MNM general secretary A Arunachalam said since it is working with vigour to effect a change of government in the Assembly elections, it will not contest in the Vellore Lok Sabha poll.

The party also said the poll which was originally scheduled for April 18 was postponed on the complaint of cash distribution and several cases were registered. As there is no progress in those cases, a poll again in Vellore has increased people’s lack of confidence on elections and the Election Commission (EC). “Election Commission announcing the elections without taking any further action on the cases filed has reduced the faith of the people in it. Under this situation, it is vital to uphold the faith of the people,” he said.

The election for the Vellore constituency was to be held on April 18, which was rescinded following the seizure of a large amount of cash by the Income Tax department from a cement warehouse belonging to a DMK functionary. The EC while rescinding the poll then said it was “fully satisfied” that the current electoral process in Vellore has been seriously vitiated on account of unlawful activities on behalf of DMK candidate Kathir Anand and some workers of the political party in question.

Former Vellore MNM candidate R Suresh said, “Though the polls were countermanded due to cash being siezed, no action was taken by the EC and the same candidate has now been allowed to contest this time also.”