Kamal Hassan lashes out at TTV for buying win'

Chennai: TTV Dhinakaran bought his RK Nagar bypoll win by “heavily bribing” the voters who sold their democratic right “like begging from a thief”, actor-activist Kamal Hassan said Thursday.

Breaking out from a brief lull in his fiery attacks on high corruption in the government, Kamal said in an article in Tamil weeklyAnanda Vikatan that TTV’s win in RK Nagar was “a blot on democracy”. He did not spare the AIADMK either, accusing the ruling party of “fixing Rs.6000 as the rate per vote”, whereas the “independent candidate” (TTV) changed his rate depending on the voter.

In his no-holds-barred attack against Dhinakaran, even without naming him, Kamal in his article said the electorate of R K Nagar, represented twice by late J Jayalalithaa, have “dug their own grave” by voting the “independent candidate” who fixed the highest rate for their votes.

Kamal’s outburst comes four days after his long-time friend Rajinikanth announced political plunge. In the article, Kamal said his own political plan was “very much on the cards” and he was “racing against time” to complete his film projects.

The actor also referred to Election Commission rescinding the RK Nagar by-poll in April. This is not the first time that Kamal is attacking TTV’s Mannargudi Clan. He had opposed V K Sasikala becoming Chief Minister in February last year.

“The very people who stepped out of their houses during the historic 2015 floods that almost submerged Chennai to lend a helping hand to the needy have sold themselves to a Rs 20 token. This (act of getting money for votes) is equal to begging and that too akin to begging from a thief. There can’t be more ridiculous action than this,” the actor said.