Alleging that DMK tickets for the Lok Sabha polls have been ‘sold for money’, former Union minister M K Alagiri on Monday predicted a clear debacle for the party and said it would finish third in most of the constituencies in the State.
Speaking to Express over phone, Alagiri said ‘90 per cent of the candidates were chosen by party treasurer
M K Stalin and with such nominees the DMK would only lose’. Apart from Alagiri, his loyalists like former Union Minister of State D Napoleon and actor J K Ritheesh don’t appear on the list released by DMK president M Karunanidhi in Chennai on Monday.
Commenting on the list, Alagiri alleged that the high command had failed to follow procedure in the selection process and had given the seats to those who paid money. “Even some former AIADMK functionaries have been allotted seats,” Alagiri claimed.
To substantiate their leader’s claim, Alagiri’s supporters cited the cases of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce senior president, Rethinavelu, who has been given the ticket for Virudhunagar constituency. They said Rethinavelu had joined the DMK only three days ago and the seat had gone to him despite many functionaries like DMK Thiruparankundram union secretary Karthikeyan from Thirumangalam seeking the ticket. Apart from mobilising `106 crore through contribution from cadre for the election fund, the high command had made crores of rupees by selling party tickets to the highest bidder, Alagiri loyalists alleged. They gave the example of Ramanathapuram constituency from where Mohamed Jaleel, who runs an educational institution in Madurai, would be contesting the elections. More: P2