Jayalalithaa denies violating model code of conduct

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa Tuesday denied announcing any new scheme during her Nov 28 campaign for her party candidate for the Dec 4 Yercaud by-election.

"It is vehemently denied that any announcement of new schemes was made while I was campaigning for the AIADMK party candidate Nov 28 in Yercaud constituency," Jayalalithaa told the Election Commission in her reply to its notice.

She also told the commission her name was misspelt in the notice issued to her. The commission spelt her name as Jayalalitha whereas it should be Jayalalithaa.

The Election Commission Dec 2 issued her a notice seeking her explanation about a complaint by the DMK on alleged violation of the model code of conduct during the poll campaign.

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.

The commission said Jayalalithaa concluded her speech promising to provide whatever is required for the development of the area.

According to the commission, the conjunctive reference to the requirements of the area as brought to Jayalalithaa's notice and her assurance of the government meeting the developmental requirements of the area was prima facie found to be in the nature of making a promise in poll-bound Yercaud.

Responding to that charge, Jayalalithaa said: "I made a general statement that whatever is required for the uplift of the people in the area would be provided. It would not be correct to link the unrelated general statement with the requirements brought to my notice."

"I did not promise that any specific scheme would be implemented. I emphatically deny I made any specific promise of providing any one of the requirements brought to my notice," she added.