EPS raps DMK on donation from Martin, goes soft on BJP

People will teach a fitting lesson to DMK leader Stalin for receiving funds from a firm that exploits and loots their hard earned money

—Edappadi K Palaniswami, Leader of Opposition

CHENNAI: Hours after the Election Commission (EC) uploaded the details of political parties’ statement on electoral bonds, Leader of Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday hit out at his archrival DMK for receiving over Rs 500 crore from lottery king Santigo Martin’s Future Gamings and Hotel Services, which was the top purchaser of the bonds.

“It was exposed that the DMK received Rs 509 crore through electoral bonds from Future Gamings that runs lottery and (online) gambling. The people of the state will teach a fitting lesson to the DMK leader MK Stalin for receiving funds from a firm that exploits and loots the hard earned money from the people,” said Palaniswami in his social media post in X. The AIADMK had received Rs 6 crore through bonds and the Chennai Super Kings was the major contributor to the party.

Recalling AIADMK’s efforts, Palaniswami criticised the DMK regime by stating that it brought in a weak law against online gambling and thereby received funds from firms that run online gambling.

He, however, refrained from making any comments against his former ally BJP that was in the eye of political storm triggered by electoral bonds. The BJP was the top beneficiary and received around 50 per cent of the total fund donated.

Since the Supreme Court struck down the EBs and termed it “unconstitutional,” and after the EC uploaded the details, PM Narendra Modi-led BJP government has come under the eye of political storm as the opposition charged that the saffron party unleashed the central agencies against corporates and individuals in a bid to extort money.

Going by the data uploaded on EBs on EC website, the DMK, the AIADMK and a few other parties only disclosed the information regarding the donors.

The BJP, Trinamool Congress, INC and BRS, who were among the top beneficiaires, maintained secrecy over their donors.

Future Gaming lottery king Santiago Martin donated Rs 1,368 crore to various political parties. While information regarding Rs 509 made public through the documents submitted by the DMK, the donation to the remaining Rs 859 crore is still in the dark.

“Palaniswami should treat the BJP and the DMK equally on this issue to earn the trust of the people,” said an old timer and noted that he cannot afford to soft pedal on the BJP.