Tamil Nadu bypolls: DMK urges Election Commission to cancel TVK’s list of star campaigners from other parties
The TVK has named leaders of its alliance partners in its list of star campaigners for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls
The DMK's organisation secretary, R.S. Bharathi, has submitted a complaint to the Election Commission of India, requesting the immediate cancellation of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) list of star campaigners from other political parties for the upcoming assembly elections in Maduranthagam and Dharapuram constituencies. The DMK argues that this contravenes the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Model Code of Conduct.
The TVK has included names such as Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore, VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, VCK Minister Vanni Arasu, VCK MPs D. Ravikumar and Sinthanai Selvan, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, Durai Vaiko, and IUML leader K.M. Kader Mohideen in its list of star campaigners. Bharathi pointed out that Section 77(1) of the Representation of the People Act allows exemptions for travel expenses only for leaders of the party themselves.
He emphasized that the Election Commission's guidelines require parties to list only their own leaders as star campaigners, and declaring leaders from other parties as official campaigners for their candidates is a misuse of the exemption from election expenditure. Bharathi urged the Election Commission to ensure that any expenses incurred by leaders from other parties while campaigning for TVK candidates are fully accounted for in the candidates' election expenditure accounts, maintaining the principle of free and fair elections.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
