Members of Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam on Saturday petitioned the district collector cum election officer in Coimbatore, demanding that vote counting be postponed until a judicial inquiry headed by a sitting or retired judge is ordered into allegations of distribution of cash to voters. They also urged that the election be canceled if the charges are proven.
Activists protest with symbolic black cloth
The activists arrived at the collectorate with their eyes, ears, and mouths covered with a black cloth to signify what they called the 'silence and inaction' of authorities. Police personnel stopped them at the entrance, removed the cloth, and later allowed them to submit a petition.
Demands for ECI action
V Eswaran, president of the outfit, demanded that the Election Commission of India publicly acknowledge instances of money being distributed to voters before proceeding with vote counting. He claimed that more than Rs 1,000 crore had been distributed in Coimbatore district alone and alleged that complaints submitted constituency-wise had not received any response.
The activists termed the vote counting process a 'mockery of democracy' and stressed the need for a thorough investigation to ensure free and fair elections.
