Election Commission bars A. Raja form car campaigning and warns not to lower dignity of women
Coimbatore: The Election Commission has banned DMK leader A Raja from campaigning for 48 hours on Thursday. They made this decision after finding him guilty of violating the model code of conduct by making alleged derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palanisamy.
The poll panel condemned his actions and removed his name from the list of DMK's "star campaigners" and debarred him from campaigning for 48 hours with immediate effect. The order said, "The Commission also advises you to be watchful and not to make intemperate, indecent, derogatory, obscene remarks and lower the dignity of women in future during the election campaign,".
The order did not specify the exact time the ban would end, but if the communication was received by Raja this afternoon, he cannot campaign till the afternoon of April 3. There have been instances where the EC has mentioned the exact time when the ban would end. A Raja would not be able to address any public meetings, rallies, press conferences or even give media interviews until April 3.
If a leader is a "star campaigner", his campaigning expenditure is completely borne by the party. Assembly polls will be held in Tamil Nadu on April 6in a single phase for which campaigning would end in the evening of April 4.
Following the order A Raja submitted an interim reply on March 31, denying the allegations and had asked for a copy of full text of his "alleged abusive speech", copy of the complaint made by AIADMK and had requested for an opportunity to give a detailed reply.
EC said his reply was not satisfactory and giving more time was not possible in the midst of elections. In another notice Raja, the EC had reproduced portions of his speeches made on March 26 at Thousand Lights assembly constituency.
EC has pointed out that Raja had allegedly said that "Stalin is a child of good relationship and good birth while Palaniswami is a child of bad relationship and a premature born child" which caused an outburst among the parties and the public alike.
The poll panel condemned his actions and removed his name from the list of DMK's "star campaigners" and debarred him from campaigning for 48 hours with immediate effect. The order said, "The Commission also advises you to be watchful and not to make intemperate, indecent, derogatory, obscene remarks and lower the dignity of women in future during the election campaign,".
The order did not specify the exact time the ban would end, but if the communication was received by Raja this afternoon, he cannot campaign till the afternoon of April 3. There have been instances where the EC has mentioned the exact time when the ban would end. A Raja would not be able to address any public meetings, rallies, press conferences or even give media interviews until April 3.
If a leader is a "star campaigner", his campaigning expenditure is completely borne by the party. Assembly polls will be held in Tamil Nadu on April 6in a single phase for which campaigning would end in the evening of April 4.
Following the order A Raja submitted an interim reply on March 31, denying the allegations and had asked for a copy of full text of his "alleged abusive speech", copy of the complaint made by AIADMK and had requested for an opportunity to give a detailed reply.
EC said his reply was not satisfactory and giving more time was not possible in the midst of elections. In another notice Raja, the EC had reproduced portions of his speeches made on March 26 at Thousand Lights assembly constituency.
EC has pointed out that Raja had allegedly said that "Stalin is a child of good relationship and good birth while Palaniswami is a child of bad relationship and a premature born child" which caused an outburst among the parties and the public alike.