'Hope people aren't influenced by money being distributed by some parties' is DMK chief Stalin's message from the polling booth as 2019 polls begin in Tamil Nadu

With 38 Lok Sabha seats of Tamil Nadu polling in the second phase of elections on April 18, the state which has traditionally seen a bipolar contest between AIADMK and DMK is witnessing a contest between the Congress-DMK duo against the BJP-AIADMK duo this time around. 

After casting his vote at Chennai's Teynampet, the DMK chief interacted with the media and urged the voters to cast their votes as well. He said:

"I urge all voters to come and vote so as to bring about a change in the government. All of you should vote. I hope people are not influenced by money being distributed by some parties"

He then went on to accuse the Election Commission of 'working as an ally of the ruling governments in the Centre and the State. He also said that he hopes that the Election Commission attends to all EVMs that have developed snags in various places and that the polling takes place in a safe and proper manner in his state.

READ: DMK Chief MK Stalin Dubs I-T Raids As Political Vendetta, Sister Kanimozhi Says The Party Is Not Threatened By The BJP

At the other side, DMK Lok Sabha Candidate from Thoothukudi and Stalin's sister, Kanimozhi has alleged that the Opposition has been harassed by the government and claimed that raids have been targeted only at Opposition parties' leaders while interacting with the media outside the polling station, after casting her vote on Thursday morning. 

Following the cash haul and raids in the state, the Election Commission had cancelled the polling in Vellore constituency. All the seats are going to polls in the second phase. This is the first Lok Sabha elections in the state after the demise of its heavyweights DMK's Karunanidhi and AIADMK's Jayalalitha.

READ LIVE UPDATES: 2019 Lok Sabha Elections Begin: India Goes To Polls For Phase 2 Of General Elections - Voting To Be Held For 95 Seats