The Nadigar Sangam is conducting a mega cricket tournament on April 17 to raise funds for the construction of its new building. Budgeted at Rs. 26 crores, the building will be constructed with funds raised from the cricket event. Sun TV has acquired the TV rights of the event for Rs 9 crores and several other advertisers have come on board. Tickets will also be sold for the matches.
Meanwhile, a group called Tamizhaga Makkal Jananayaga has reached the Election Commission asking for a ban on the matched. A petition has been submitted to Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni stating that the tournament has AIADMK candidates and party men taking part and that such an event will be a violation of the model code. TMJ president Shariff met the Chief Election Commissioner of TN at his office and handed over a memorandum to ban the event citing it possesses opportunity to bribe voters as planned by political parties.
Another plea has also been filed to cancel the event by Ponnusamy of the TN Milk Dealers Welfare Association. The plea states that Karunas, C R Saraswati, Sarathkumar and J K Riteesh were all AIADMK supporters and party members and that this was a campaign by AIADMK through celebrity cricket match to canvass for votes.
Since the election date has been announced in Tamil Nadu the Nadigar Sangam already gave a letter to EC seeking permission. The EC has sent a letter to Nadigar Sangam and given a nod for conducting the event.
Tamil actors Ajith, Vijay, Simbu and Dhanush likely to skip stating various personal reasons while megastars Amitabh Bachchan and Chiranjeevi are likely to attend.
"Invitations have been sent to Amitabh Bachchan and Chiranjeevi. We are expecting them to attend the opening ceremony of the tournament,” says Nadigar Sangam officials.
It is also said Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan will be present for the inaugural ceremony.
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