AIADMK announces to boycott Vikravandi Assembly constituency by-election

CHENNAI: The AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday said that his party would boycott Vikravandi by-elections and claimed that the by polls in the past would not be held in a free and fair manner. He also said that his party's aim is to win the 2026 assembly elections with full people's support. The decision came after the AIADMK seniors conducted an internal discussion weighing the pros and cons of contesting and boycotting the by poll.

In a statement, the former chief minister claimed that AIADMK would be the first party to be in the fray when the elections were announced. "Everyone knows that AIADMK does not have fear in contesting the elections," he added.

Recalling that the AIADMK did not contest in Ilayangudi, Cumbam, Thondamuthur, Bargoor and Srivaikuntam by-polls, which was held on August 18, 2009 when DMK was in power, he said similarly, in the same year the AIADMK did not contest the elections to the local bodies held on February 27, 2009.

Alleging that even in Erode (East) by-elections, the DMK had indulged in irregularities by "bribing the voters," the AIADMK leader said, "even it (DMK) has ensured that election campaign speech did not reach the people."

Palaniswami also alleged that during the Erode (East) by-polls, the DMK had indulged in housing the people at one place. "And they (people) were also threatened that the government welfare measures, including old age pension will not reach them if they do not stay at one place," he alleged.

"Likewise, there is a doubt that whether Vikravandi by-poll will be held in a democratic way," he said adding, "since state ministers and DMK cadres might misuse the power and people could not exercise their franchise free and fair manner, the AIADMK has decided to boycott Vikravandi by-poll, which is to be held on July 10, 2024.".

"With the people's support, the AIADMK will be back in power in the 2026 elections, which is the main aim of the party," he added.