DMK to boycott Pudukkottai bypolls

"The poll date has been announced after consultations between AIADMK and some persons in the Election Commission," DMK chief Karunanidhi told reporters here.

He was replying to a question why EC was not taking any action on reports of alleged irregularities indulged in by the ruling AIADMK in the constituency.

The DMK chief said the Jayalalithaa-government had announced a Rs 50 crore special development package for Pudukottai Municipality, two days before the poll schedule was announced.

"Opposition parties contesting the bye-election will not get justice from the EC and hence DMK has decided to boycott the election," he said.

CPI and PMK have already decided not to contest the bypoll, caused by the death of CPI MLA S P Muthukumaran in a road accident on April 1.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had already nominated V R Karthik Thondaiman to contest the bye-election and had constituted a working group, which includes almost the entire state cabinet, to ensure the victory of the party nominee. PTI DSJ MS BN

DV