On the eve of the polls, the Election Commission on Sunday directed DMK chief M.
On the eve of the polls, the Election Commission on Sunday directed DMK chief M. Karunanidhi to stop the party’s social media campaign and sought an explanation as to why action should not be taken against him for “violating” its code of conduct.
The action by the Commission, which wanted the explanation from the DMK president by Tuesday evening, came on a complaint from the ruling AIADMK’s IT wing. Tamil Nadu goes to polls on Monday. In a related poll matter, the AIADMK responded while the DMK sought more time to the show cause notice issued by the EC on Saturday to their chiefs in which it has asked them to explain how they intend to raise the money to distribute the freebies they have promised in their mainifestos.
Commission sources said the AIADMK responded to the show cause notice while the DMK sought two more days. They were given time till 5 pm on Sunday.
“Matter is under consideration,” they said. On the social media campaign issue, the communication from Tamil Nadu chief electoral officer Rajesh Lakhoni to Karunanidhi said telecast/broadcast of all political advertisement in all electronic form should be “stopped 48 hours before the day of close of poll.”
The AIADMK had complained that DMK was “doing campaigning in social media in favour of” Mr Karunanidhi and that it was promoting its manifestos among voters.
Citing EC guidelines, Lakhoni said during this 48-hour window, no persons shall, among others, convene or address public meetings or processions or propagate any election matter.
