By IANS,
Chennai: The AIADMK Monday decided to boycott the coming byelections for the five assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, alleging the polls would not be held in a free and fair manner.
The party’s executive committee met in Coonoor Monday and passed a resolution boycotting the byelections to Cumbum (Theni district), Illayankudi (Sivaganga), Bargur (Krishnagiri), Sri Vaikungam (Tuticorin) and Thondamuthur (Coimbatore) assembly constituencies.
“With Congress government at the centre turning a blind eye to all the activities of DMK, it is doubtful whether the Election Commission (EC) would be able to conduct a free and fair poll and hence AIADMK has decided to boycott the byelections for the five assembly constituencies, scheduled Aug 18,” the resolution said.
The executive committee also authorised party chief J. Jayalalithaa to discuss the boycott issue with its alliance parties.
The resolution also accused the ruling DMK of having “unleashed violence, misused official machinery, threatened poll officials and indulged in many other undemocratic activities to win bye-elections to the assembly, local body elections and also the recent Lok Sabha elections”.
It also charged the DMK with removing the names of all those who would have voted for AIADMK from the voters list.
The AIADMK has alleged that the EC has turned a blind eye to the activities of DMK despite several complaints.
The resolution also stated that the electronic voting machine (EVM) can be rigged and many political parties have expressed their reservation on the machines.
With the AIADMK’s boycott decision, the byelections for the five assembly constituencies, scheduled Aug 18, is likely to be a tame affair for DMK-Congress combine.