CHENNAI:
Tamil Nadu chief secretary
K Shanmugam
on Saturday took a dig at political parties - in an apparent reference to the DMK - appointing consultants to advise them.
He was speaking at the National Voters' Day function organised by chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo. Governor
Banwarilal Purohit was the chief guest.
Shanmugam said consultants appointed by political parties had no understanding of the state and its politics. In effect, the parties are undermining the capability of their own leaders and cadres, said Shanmugam. The DMK had a consultant till recently. Many parties in Tamil Nadu are holding talks with political strategist and JD(U) leader Prashant Kishor to appoint him as their consultant.
For some time, the electoral reforms started by T N Seshan as the chief
election
commissioner were followed but now things were back to square one, said Shanmugam.
The governor advised students to keep a watch on their parents and prevent them from taking cash for votes. Students should turn away politicians who try to bribe their parents for votes, he said. "It must be your duty to make your family members vote on election day," said Purohit.