Those who thought the war of words would end with the canvassing were in for a surprise, as Election Day came and went in Tamil Nadu, without much change in the behaviour of party leaders.
From the voter turnout to the attacks on AIADMK men, and even the gap between Election Day and Counting Day, politicians seem to believe every aspect of the Tamil Nadu polls involves a conspiracy.
What's more, the vernacular papers believe they could be right! Even newspapers that were largely considered neutral have taken up the torch for some cause, if not some party.
The Rs 81-lakh heist
English newspapers reported on 16 April that a DMK functionary, R S Ramalingam, who claimed to be a papad trader unattached to any party, was being questioned after a poll panel intercepted his car and found details of money distributed to voters in a diary.
However, Tamil newspapers avoided reference to any party.
In an article titled 'Money Money - CBI to conduct investigation in West Madurai' published on April 18, the Tamil website of OneIndia said, "Having found evidence that more than Rs 81 lakh was used to bribe voters in the western part of Madurai, the CBI is conducting an investigation.
Election officials and members of the Flying Squad have recovered Rs 4 crore in a severe crackdown on malpractices during elections, in the ten constituencies of Madurai. Election officials found a diary in a car, containing records of voters having been bribed in 4 wards."
The report goes on to say, "In the diary, it was written that up to Rs 81.20 lakh had been distributed among voters. Of this, Rs. 16.35 lakh for Ward 65, Rs. 18.96 lakh for Ward 66, Rs. 21.11 lakh for Ward 67 and Rs. 24.41 lakh for Ward 69 have already been distributed. The diary is now in the custody of the Collector, Sagayam. Police interrogated the two people travelling in the car. Based on the evidence collected, there could be repolling in Madurai."
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Graphics : Tamil Nadu Assembly Election . (Copyright PTI)
