The Election Commission has issued show cause notices to All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President M Karunanidhi for violating the model code in effect in the state. The monitoring body issued the two similarly-worded notices on Saturday – two days before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are scheduled to be held – based on complaints against the election manifestos of their parties, PTI reported.
Prima facie, the election manifestos of the opposing parties do not “substantially fulfill” the commission’s guidelines, it said. Both the AIADMK and DMK chiefs have been asked to explain their “stand for non-compliance of the guidelines” and provide details of how they plan to meet the promises made in the manifestos and their financial requirement for the same.
The two leaders have till 5 pm on Sunday to respond to the show case notices. If Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi fail to submit replies, the EC will take “further appropriate action” against their parties without further reference to them.
Both parties made broad claims in their respective election manifestos. Among the promises AIADMK made were to waive off all farmers’ loans, provide free WiFi at public spaces, revoke Foreign Direct Investment in retail, allot 50% subsidy for women to buy mopeds or scooters and provide farmers with loans worth Rs 40,000 crore from 2016 to 2021. Similarly, DMK’s election manifesto promised smartphones to poor people, free 3G and 4G services, enforcement of prohibition in the state, as well as crop and educational loan waiver, among others.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!