Puthiya Tamilagam Party led by founder and president Dr. K. Krishnasamy MD, Ex. MLA, today (17.03.2022) in Chennai – Quality Inn (Sabari) along with BJP, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, Samajwadi Party, Mukkulathor Pulipadai, Tamizhaga Murpokku Makkal Katchi, Republican Party of India, Samathuva Makkal Katchi, Desiya Makkal Katchi, South India Forward Bloc, Indu Makkal Katchi, Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi, Naadalum Makkal Katchi, TamilNadu Nadar Peravai and Tamizh Thannurimai Iyakkam were at the All Party Consultative Meeting held at the hotel where the following resolution was passed unanimously by the 15 parties

Democracy does not shrink with the freedom of speech, writing and expression of every individual. It also includes the means by which they can freely choose a state for themselves. It is the practice of all democracies around the world to elect their representatives by secret ballot, regardless of any provocation.

We gained that suffrage after nearly 200 years of struggle to change the conditions under which those who came from somewhere oppressed us and ruled ourselves. We are paying a high price for that. In recent times, there has been an increase in dangerous tendencies in Tamil Nadu to usurp the right to vote, which has been fought for by the sacrifices of many.

An environment has been created in which those who can pour billions of rupees into the polls and destroy the conditions under which the people can get their votes and come to the place where the people can work can compete in the elections by giving money and gifts to the voters, corrupting them and changing their minds to get votes.

The contagion that began to pay for votes in a hush-hush hidden corners in the run-up to the by-elections has now spread to major parliamentary and legislative general and local elections. Voters are now being forced to ask political parties for money to vote, as they change their minds by forcing cash and gifts into their hands and pockets, even if they do not want to.

Only new heavyweights, who are likely to spend Rs 50 to 100 crore on parliamentary elections, Rs 25 to 50 crore on assembly elections and Rs 5 to 10 crore on local elections, can contest elections; Levels of being able to succeed are evolving. In the recent urban local elections, Rs 2 crore to Rs 10 crore per ward has been given in cash, hot cases, anklets, tokens and many other things. We think the elections should be conducted in a democratic, honest and orderly manner, except that the Electoral Commission who are supposed to stop such irregularities should be able to conduct in that particular manner. There can be nothing more detrimental to democracy than holding unfair elections.

Therefore, in future we must go to court insisting that the Election Commission of India should implement a more comprehensive plan to restore democracy by preventing excessive money laundering in the forthcoming parliamentary and assembly elections and local elections in Tamil Nadu; we will hold demonstrations in Tamil Nadu and Delhi and carry forward the idea that ‘votes are not for sale.’ It has been decided to hold 100 public meetings in Tamil Nadu from May 2022 to create awareness among school, college students, youth and the general public.