EC asks Jayalalithaa to stick to poll code, rejects stand

The Election Commission Friday rejected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's contention on its notice for Model Code of Conduct violation and advised her to be careful in future and not announce new schemes during elections to lure voters.

"The commission rejects the contention made in the reply of J. Jayalalithaa and has decided to advise her to be careful in future and not make such announcements of new schemes for electorate with a view to alluring them," the commission said in its order.

The commission also asked various political parties, particularly their leaders, to scrupulously follow the Model Code of Conduct and not resort to any "subterfuge" to circumvent its provisions.

The EC on Dec 2 issued a notice to Jayalalithaa following a complaint that she made announcement of new schemes while campaigning for her party candidate Nov 28 in a byelection to the legislative assembly from Yercaud.

In its notice, the commission said her campaign speech was in the nature of alluding to different social and infrastructural requirements needed for Yercaud that had been brought to her notice.

Jayalalithaa denied announcing any new scheme during her Nov 28 campaign for her party candidate.