Nano, cellphones: Independents join freebie-for-all in Tamil Nadu
An independent contesting from Salem South and North constituencies has made an unbelievable offer of a Nano each to every voter if elected.
By PTI | Updated:
CHENNAI: Not wanting to be left behind by political parties, independents contesting the April 13 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu have come up with promise of freebies to woo the electorate. It doesn't matter that most of them border on the absurd.
An independent contesting from Salem South and North constituencies has made an unbelievable offer of a Nano each to every voter if elected. Shahjahan also promised a cellphone, a generator set to each family, free cable TV connection and pocket money of Rs 200 to every student.
When asked from where he would get the money to fulfil his promises, Shahjahan coolly said, "If the money that came from 2G spectrum scam is confiscated, more could be done."
Asked whether his promise amounted to corruption, an offence under the Representation of the People's Act, the candidate, a lawyer by profession, said there was nothing wrong. "If the political parties can offer (freebies), why can't I?" he countered.
Another independent candidate from Musiri, Kannaiyan, has promised free gold coins to all voters if elected, besides three cents to those who worked for him during the polls. He had also offered free cable TV connections to the voters in his constituency.
Congress candidate in Musiri M Rajasekaran had moved the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the Election Commission to prevent Kannaiyan's alleged corrupt practices.
The court rejected the petition after Election Commission said it would take steps in accordance with law if the charges were true.
An independent contesting from Salem South and North constituencies has made an unbelievable offer of a Nano each to every voter if elected. Shahjahan also promised a cellphone, a generator set to each family, free cable TV connection and pocket money of Rs 200 to every student.
When asked from where he would get the money to fulfil his promises, Shahjahan coolly said, "If the money that came from 2G spectrum scam is confiscated, more could be done."
Asked whether his promise amounted to corruption, an offence under the Representation of the People's Act, the candidate, a lawyer by profession, said there was nothing wrong. "If the political parties can offer (freebies), why can't I?" he countered.
Another independent candidate from Musiri, Kannaiyan, has promised free gold coins to all voters if elected, besides three cents to those who worked for him during the polls. He had also offered free cable TV connections to the voters in his constituency.
Congress candidate in Musiri M Rajasekaran had moved the Madras High Court, seeking a direction to the Election Commission to prevent Kannaiyan's alleged corrupt practices.
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The court rejected the petition after Election Commission said it would take steps in accordance with law if the charges were true.
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