EC serves notice to Jayalalithaa on DMK complaint

The Election Commission issued notice to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa seeking an explanation on a complaint by the DMK of alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct during the Yercaud bye-election campaign.

Bye-election to the state assembly from the Yercaud constituency will be held Dec 4.

In a statement here, the chief electoral officer said a complaint was received by the Election Commission that the chief minister announced new schemes Nov 28, during a campaign for her party candidate in the Yercaud bye-election.

"Now, the Election Commission has issued a notice to the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the above complaint of violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The Election Commission has directed that the reply in the above matter must reach the commission by 5 p.m., Dec 3," the statement said.

The DMK, in its Nov 29 complaint to the commission, said that during her campaign for her party's candidate, Jayalalithaa announced various schemes for voters of the constituency.

According to the complaint, Jayalalithaa announced setting up of primary health centres, veterinary hospitals, taluk hospital, a government arts college, laying of roads, and construction of a dam, among other things.