Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam's women's wing leader Premalatha has been booked by the police for allegedly telling people to ask the Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu for money in return for votes in the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Premlatha, who is also the wife of DMDK founder Vijayakanth, said that voters could accept money from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam as they were just returning the wealth looted from the people, reported The Hindu.

According to PTI, AIADMK workers had registered a case against her under the Representation of People Act and the Indian Penal Code on the basis of recordings of her speech at a meeting in Tirunelveli. The police said Premalatha, in a veiled reference to the DMK and AIADMK, told the gathering that "some political parties will offer to give Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per vote. You ask them Rs 1 lakh per vote".

Premalatha later claimed that her intent was not to encourage bribing of voters. The Tamil Nadu elections will be held on May 16, for which the DMDK has forged an alliance with the four-party People's Welfare Front.