Money power wins over democracy, says Jayalalithaa

'Money power has won over democracy', was the reaction of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo Jayalalithaa, commenting on the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu as the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam front registered a resounding victory, dashing her hopes of reviving the party's prospects to play a key role at the national level. In a statement, she claimed that the DMK's money and muscle power had buried democracy.

The DMK had distributed money freely, indulged in several malpractices in the EVMs and resorted to booth capturing, culminating in its victory, she alleged. Leaders of the AIADMK front had brought it to the notice of the Election Commission but it failed to take action, she said.

Even during counting, DMK men indulged in large-scale malpractices, she charged. "It is shameful that Union Home Minister P Chidamabram was declared elected after some tricks even after news came that AIADMK nominee Raja Kannappan had won from Sivaganga. Even in Villupuram and Tiruchirapalli, there was delay in issuing the certificates to the winning AIADMK candidates," she said.

Jayalalithaa condemned the 'undemocratic acts' of the DMK government and the Election Commission.