‘They’re scared’: Kanimozhi blames BJP as I-T dept searches her residence two days before LS polls

House of DMK Lok Sabha candidate K. Kanimozhi was on Tuesday raided by teams of Income Tax officials and the Election Commission's static surveillance in Thoothukodi in Tamil Nadu.

DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi. (AFP)

CHENNAI: House of DMK Lok Sabha candidate M. Kanimozhi was on Tuesday raided by teams of Income Tax officials and the Election Commission's static surveillance in Thoothukodi in Tamil Nadu. Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha member, is contesting the April 18 Lok Sabha poll against the BJP's state unit chief Tamilisai Soundararajan. This comes hours after election in Vellore Lok Sabha constituency was cancelled on Tuesday following recovery of huge amount of cash allegedly from a DMK candidate's office a few days ago. President Ram Nath Kovind rescended the election notification for the seat based on the recommendation by the Election Commission. The EC took the decision after the district police had filed a complaint against the candidate, Kathir Anand, as well as two party functionaries on the basis of a report from the Income Tax department on April 10. "On the information shared by local administration, Income Tax Department searched premises related to DMK's Kanimozhi in Thoothukudi. Verification is on. Kanimozhi was there and she cooperated with the team," ANI quoted its sources as saying. Search is now over as the IT sleuths have found nothing at her residence, they said. Kanimozhi blamed the ruling BJP for raids saying the party is scared of DMK's victory in the Lok Sabha polls. "We will not be cowed down by these incidents. We will emerge victorious. The ruling party is scared of our victory. They are carrying out raids to tarnish image of the DMK," she said. Reacting to the IT raids, DMK chief MK Stalin, said: "Crores and crores of rupees are kept in Tamilisai Soundararajan's(BJP TN Chief) residence, why no raids there? Modi is using IT,CBI,Judiciary and now EC to interfere in elections.They are doing this as they fear losing." Polling for 38 Lok Sabha seats and by-elections for 18 Assembly seats will be held simultaneously in the state on April 18. Allegations of use of money flew thick and fast in the run up to the polls with the Election authorities seizing over Rs 127 crore cash and gold and other precious metals with a total value of Rs 284 crore in various parts of the state. Looking to improve their strength in the state Assembly, neither the AIADMK nor the DMK have ceded any of the seats where bypolls will be held to their allies, which include the BJP and the Congress respectively. TTV Dhinakaran-led fledgling Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) is also in the fray and may split the anti-DMK and AIADMK votes. In the 234-member strong Assembly, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has 114 members (including the Speaker), the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) 88, its allies Congress and Indian Union Muslim League 8 and 1 respectively and Dhinakaran is an Independent member. Twenty-two seats are vacant and bypolls will be held for 18 of these. For the AIADMK, bagging maximum seats in the two elections is important to ensure a smooth sail till the end of its tenure in 2021, halt a resurgent DMK led by its new chief M K Stalin and exert influence at the Centre. Besides, the bypolls will give the AIADMK an opportunity to take on Dhinakaran, who handed a surprise defeat to the ruling party in the December 2017 R K Nagar by-election.