Thaindian News

Chennai, April 4 (IANS) Appreciating the Election Commission’s (EC) efforts to curb the money power play in the April 13 Tamil Nadu assembly polls, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader M.Venkaiah Naidu Monday said the poll panel should go further in tackling the malaise.

“The EC is performing its responsibility in preventing distribution of money to the voters to ensure free and fair polls,” he said.

Taking exception to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi’s comment that there is an undeclared emergency in the state in reference to the EC’s strict measures in curbing distribution of money, Naidu said: “No one has been arrested and incarcerated. How can you compare this with emergency?”

On the offer of freebies, Naidu took a dig at the DMK and the AIADMK: “What is the point in promising grinders and mixers when the government cannot assure power supply?”

Even six decades after independence, the seven basic needs of the people - power, roads, drinking water, irrigation water, education, health, employment and food for all - have not been provided, he said, adding the parties should talk about grinders and mixers after providing the basic needs.

Queried about the Commonwealth Games scam, he said it is the “Congress Wealth Scam”.

On the 2G spectrum scam and its impact on the elections in Tamil Nadu, Naidu said: “How can the praja (people) forget the (former communications minister A.) Raja.”

He asserted the ruling parties in all the five states - Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, West Bengal and Puducherry - that are going to polls would be voted out owing to bad governance and corruption.

Naidu said the election results in the five states would also put a question mark over the continuance of the central government.