The AIADMK faction headed by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has been asked to explain by April 3 as to why action should not be taken against it for violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) ahead of bypolls to the RK Nagar Assembly constituency.
The Commission’s action is in response to a complaint that said the OPS faction, which was allotted the “electric pole” symbol, had been displaying “two lamps” on posters and the social media. This was with the intention to create an impression in the minds of voters that the Commission had allotted it a symbol resembling the AIADMK’s original “two leaves” symbol.
“Finding substance in the complaint”, the EC decided to give the AIADMK faction an opportunity to explain its position, it said in a communication to E Madhusudhanan, the OPS camp’s candidate for the April 12 bypoll.
Earlier this month, after freezing the “two leaves” symbol of the AIADMK, the Commission allotted the faction represented by Panneerselvam the name All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) and the “electric pole” as it symbol, while the VK Sasikala faction was called AIADMK (Amma) and has a “hat” as its symbol.
Elections to the RK Nagar Assembly constituency will be held on April 12. The seat fell vacant following the demise of former Chief Minister and party supremo J Jayalalithaa in December last year.