Facing sexual harassment charges, PMK's Nanguneri candidate joins AIADMK

Madurai: Facing a sexual harassment complaint, Pattali Makkal Katchi candidate for the Nanguneri assembly constituency in Tirunelveli district S Thirupathi (35) joined the AIADMK on Friday.
On May 10, Ponselvi, wife of Thirupathi's driver Sivaram, lodged a police complaint with the Perumalpuram police accusing the PMK candidate of sexual harassment over the phone and threatening her.Though an FIR has not been filed, Thirupathi, who was also state vice president of the PMK, was questioned two days ago on the basis of the complaint.
Sixteen candidates are in the fray in the Nanguneri constituency, including the AIADMK's M Vijayakumar, the Congress' H Vasanthakumar and the DMDK's K Jayabalan. The PMK's youth wing president and chief ministerial candidate Anbumani Ramadoss had campaigned for his party candidates in the district twice.
It is learnt that Thirupathi had taken the issue of complaint to his party headquarters and sought its help, but the party washed its hands off the matter. This is said to have prompted him to join the AIADMK.
On Friday, Thirupathi came to the AIADMK office in Tirunelveli and joined the party in the presence of its candidate for Tirunelveli constituency Nainar Nagenthran. When TOI asked him about his decision, Thirupathi said: "The PMK headquarters did not give me money to meet campaign expenses. I spent Rs 8 lakh so far and can spend no more. The AIADMK candidate M Vijayakumar and the Congress candidate H Vasanthakumar are very strong in terms of money power. I joined the AIADMK because I do not wish to let my party down for want of money."
Commenting on the complaint lodged against him, Thirupathi said: "The complaint against me is false, which I will face legally. I've recorded the conversation held between us over the phone." Asked why no FIR was registered against Thirupathi, Perumalpuram inspector Jayaseelan, said: "We are waiting caller details in this case. Once we get it, we will proceed."