AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has cautioned party workers and ticket aspirants against falling into the trap of middlemen and fraudsters who claim they can secure election nominations for cash. The senior leader made it clear that such promises are completely false and against the principles of the party.
Addressing AIADMK cadres Palaniswami said that as the interview process for selecting candidates is set to begin some individuals are attempting to exploit the situation. According to him these middlemen approach hopeful candidates and demand large sums of money in exchange for poll tickets. He described this as a serious scam aimed at misleading genuine party members.
The AIADMK leadership has been receiving applications from aspirants across Tamil Nadu for contesting in the forthcoming elections. With interviews scheduled from January 9 at the party headquarters in Chennai excitement among applicants has increased. Palaniswami said the party follows a transparent and structured system to evaluate every aspirant and there is no scope for anyone to buy a ticket through illegal means.
He urged aspiring candidates to rely only on official communication from the party. Any decision on nominations will be announced publicly after careful scrutiny by the selection committee. Eligible candidates will be recognized at the right time based on their work loyalty and ability to win elections he added.
Palaniswami also instructed district and constituency level office bearers to report if they come across anyone indulging in such fraudulent activities. He said the AIADMK will take strict disciplinary action against people involved in cheating or collecting money in the name of nominations. The warning was issued to protect party members from financial loss and to ensure that the credibility of the candidate selection process remains intact.
Party officials explained that the interviews starting January 9 will continue for several days. Aspirants have been asked to attend in person and present details about their political experience and public service. After the interviews the party will finalize the list of candidates and release it at the appropriate time.
Palaniswami said that the AIADMK gives importance only to merit and electoral prospects. The party does not encourage corruption or unfair practices in any form. He emphasized that middlemen promising tickets are nothing but scammers trying to take advantage of the ambitions of party workers.
Political observers say this is not the first time that major parties in India have had to warn members about poll related scams. As elections approach rumours and false messages often circulate. Palaniswami’s statement is seen as an attempt to send a firm message that the AIADMK will not tolerate any misuse of the nomination process.
The AIADMK has also made arrangements at its headquarters to conduct the interviews smoothly. Security and administrative coordination have been strengthened to manage the large number of applicants expected to arrive from different parts of the state.
In his final remarks Palaniswami reassured cadres that the leadership is fully aware of the aspirations of party workers. Deserving candidates will get their opportunity and members should continue to focus on organisational work instead of running behind false agents. His warning is intended to keep the party united and prepared for the polls without internal confusion or financial exploitation.
