Elections, by-elections costing Rs 1,000 cr in Tamil Nadu, time for clean politics: Annamalai
K Annamalai, the president of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Tamil Nadu unit, flagged the need for clean politics in elections in the southern state. On Sunday, he said the time had arrived to change the system of cash for votes, and pampering of voters, while complaining about state expenses during polls. The BJP state chief said it could lead to an absence of clean governance in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP state president said that with the current level of political activities, it would be unsustainable in the next 10 years.
“Elections, by-elections costing Rs 1000 crore, MLA elections going upwards of Rs 20 crore, MP elections going upwards of Rs 50 crore are the norm in Tamil Nadu”, stated Annamalai while asked about the recent contribution over a closed meeting where Annamalai allegedly expressed his displeasure with a possible AIADMK alliance.
“I might have spoken certain comments in an internal party meeting. When the time is right, at an appropriate level, it is for our leadership to decide the nature and condition of the alliance”, stated Annamalai.
“Aligning with one Dravidian party doesn’t mean we have to do the same things that a particular Dravidian party is doing in the election”, said Annamalai, mentioning the practise of cash for votes in the state.
He said that the influence of money should be checked or minimised in elections and said the change would take a thousand years in Tamil Nadu.
“I’m not accusing any party. Every party has got a standing of their own. Every party does politics in their own wisdom. I’m not here to make a judgment of who they are. At a personal level, I believe clean politics is the only way to bring clean governance in Tamil Nadu”, he said.
When asked if AIADMK had not been practising clean politics, Annamalai said that he’d leave it to people’s interpretation.
Speaking about rumours of his resignation, Annamalai said, “In the BJP, it is for the party leadership to decide about the alliance form and shape”, stated Annamalai.
“I will leave it to your interpretation. I can’t speak for other parties”, stated Annamalai once again when asked if AIADMK resorted to unethical means to win elections.
