BJP-AIADMK alliance has created scope for vote theft in Tamil Nadu, says Chidambaram

Former Union Home Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Sunday alleged that since the BJP had formed an alliance with the AIADMK, a situation conducive for vote theft had now arisen in Tamil Nadu.

Addressing a political conference on ‘We will prevent vote theft, we will protect democracy,’ organised by the Congress in Tirunelveli, he said: “It is known that errors occur in vote counting. We also know that defeated candidates have been declared victorious. It is well known that minorities and oppressed are prevented from casting their votes. But only after [Congress leader] Rahul Gandhi highlighted vote theft that everyone became aware of the issue.”

He added that even after Mr. Gandhi exposed ‘vote theft’, the Election Commission refused to investigate. “Fake voters are being added, genuine voters were deleted, and in some addresses, 120 people are being added where BJP members have cast votes in their names, and this has come to light. This kind of vote theft has occurred in Bihar, Karnataka, and Maharashtra,” he said.

“But in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, we will not let it happen,” Mr. Chidambaram said, adding that in Tamil Nadu, the DMK alliance was a strong front.

“However, I will not underestimate the AIADMK alliance. If it is only the DMK and AIADMK, there will be no vote theft in Tamil Nadu,” he said. “But, since the AIADMK is now in an alliance with the BJP, suspicion arises. As the AIADMK has allied with the BJP, a situation for vote theft has been created. Therefore, be vigilant. Otherwise what happened to Bihar may happen in Tamil Nadu too,” he said.

He further charged that the Election Commission had become a puppet in the hands of the BJP. “For the next eight months, we must remain vigilant, prevent vote theft, and ensure fair elections,” Mr. Chidambaram asserted.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai presided over the function.

MLAs S. Rajesh Kumar and Ruby R. Manoharan, MP Robert Bruce, and Congress leaders Pawan Kehra and Girish Chodankar were among those who participated.