PMK asks EC to cancel Srirangam bypoll if money power is used

Raising apprehensions of use of money in the February 13 byelection to Srirangam assembly constituency, PMK today urged the Election Commission to cancel the poll if political parties resorted to cash distribution.
Money power was being used in Tamil Nadu in a big way, making elections a mockey of democracy."This is regrettable," PMK founder leader Dr S Ramadoss said in a statement here.
PMK has announced it would neither contest nor support any party in the election, saying a situation has arisen in the state in which only the ruling party could win and Srirangam would be no exception.
Ramadoss, quoting a recent media survey, said votes of 78 per cent of the people below the poverty line were being "purchased" in the state.

He said in the run-up to 2011 assembly elections, crores of unaccounted money was seized.
If the distribution of money was proved, according to the Election rules, the candidate would be disqualified and also face ban from contesting for six years. But the provision was never implemented, he said.
He also urged the central government to enact an election law to disqualify those who indulged in electoral malpractices for life from contesting polls.