Minutes after disqualified AIADMK MLA and Sasikala-TTV Dhinakaran supporter P Vetrivel released a video that purportedly showed former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa at Apollo hospital during her treatment, the Election Commission has decided to crackdown. Talking to TNM, Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni has termed the move a 'clear violation of poll guidelines.’
The video has been released just a day ahead of the RK Nagar bye-polls. Vetrivel held a press conference on Wednesday at the Tamil Nadu secretariat where he released the video. Talking to the media, he claimed that TTV Dhinakaran who is the AIADMK (Amma) candidate for the polls, was not aware of his decision to show the video to the press.
Lakhoni, however, made it clear that the returning officer Praveen P Nair will be filing a formal complaint against both Dhinakaran and Vetrivel.
"They have violated provisions of section 126 (1)b of the Representation of People's Act (RPA) which clearly explains the legal provision about telecasting of any material related to election in the last 48 hours," the CEO tells TNM.
According to this section under the RPA, there is a 'Prohibition of public meetings during period of forty-eight hours ending with hour fixed for conclusion of poll' where no person shall display to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph, television.
While penal provisions allow for a two year imprisonment if TTV Dhinakaran is found guilty, Lakhoni rules out a possibility of suspension.
"Once FIR is filed, matter has to go to court and then trial has to happen," he says.
MLA Vetrivel however is not rattled by the State Election Commission's decision.
Talking to TNM, he says, "This is not an election related matter. How is the state Election Commission saying that this is an election related matter? It is our leader's health related matter."
He further justifies his action claiming, "If we had released the video at RK Nagar today it would have been a violation. But this cannot count as one."