Kanimozhi's big attack: 'BJP has completely taken over AIADMK', says DMK candidate for Tamil Nadu's Toothukudi parliamentary constituency

After casting her vote at Chennai's Alwarpet on Thursday, DMK Lok Sabha Candidate from Thoothukudi, Kamnimozhi 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. She has added that the BJP has completely taken over the AIADMK.

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

On Tuesday, the I-T department had raided the residence of Kanimozhi in Tuticorin. Apart from Kanimozhi, it also raided the residence of DMK district secretary Geetha Jeevan. Responding to the raids, Kanimozhi had said that the BJP did not scare her and their attempts to stop elections at Thoothukudi were unsuccessful.

"BJP cannot prevent my success through this income tax raid. It is anti-democractic, deliberately planned and no document has been seized so far. They want to intimidate us through this. They have come to stop elections in Thoothukudi. But DMK volunteers will be working with more enthusiasm," she said.

Her brother and DMK Chief MK Stalin had said that the raids were a political vendetta on the Opposition and alleged that the Centre was using all institutions including the I-T, CBI and EC to interfere with the upcoming general elections.

"This is basically murder of democracy. Rs 2000 note is being widely offered in elections, will you report on this? In Theni constituency, Rs 1000 note is being offered to voters, what about that? Tamil Nadu minister Velumani is accused of distributing money, his close aide Sabesan's premises is raided, no one reported, no news on this," he added.

The second phase of Lok Sabha polls is underway in 12 states and 1 union territory on Thursday. With 95 Lok Sabha seats in the fray and 52 of them belonging to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, phase two is a battle for the southern vote. Tamil Nadu, where all 38 Lok Sabha seats are going to polls, is where the BJP-AIADMK-PMK alliance is clashing with DMK-Congress duo.