Lift restrictions under MCC in Tamil Nadu, parties tell ECI after completion of polls

The parties were responding to the ECI's announcement that the restrictions, including a cap of Rs 50,000 for liquid cash, will continue to be in place till June 4. Polls in Tamil Nadu, however, got over on Friday.

Chennai: The Congress and the DMK on Saturday termed as “absurd” and a “violation of the rights of citizens” the continuation of restrictions under the Model Code of Conduct in Tamil Nadu, where elections to all 39 Lok Sabha constituencies are over.

The parties were responding to the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) announcement that the restrictions, including a cap of Rs 50,000 for liquid cash, will continue to be in place till June 4, when counting of votes will take place.

“The continuation of the restrictions under Model Code of Conduct (MCC) after today's polling in TN is absurd and a violation of the rights of citizens

What purpose does the MCC serve after the poll? If there is any mysterious purpose, the ECI may continue MCC for about 7 days after the poll. By why until June 4?” former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram asked.

The senior Congress leader said Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Satyabrata Sahoo must listen to the grievances of traders and business persons and relax the restrictions considerably on private citizens.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, Congress MP and candidate from Virudhunagar constituency, Manickam Tagore, said the rights of small traders are being infringed upon due to the continuation of the MCC.

Traders and MSMEs demand that the restriction on carrying cash should be lifted as according to MCC, one cannot carry over Rs 50,000 without “relevant documents.”

“…these prolonged restrictions are significantly impacting small traders and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the region. While I understand the importance of maintaining decorum and fairness during the electoral process, the extension of the MCC beyond the polling date seems excessive and unjustified,” Tagore said.

As counting is scheduled to take place over the course of more than 50 days, the continued enforcement of MCC regulations until June 4th is causing undue hardship and hindrance to businesses and livelihoods, Tagore added.

DMK Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson said the ECI should consider relaxing the Model Code of Conduct in these states to enable them to carry out their functions without hindrance, including welfare measures, new policies, and recruitment.

“Freezing the state government activities until June 4 is like suspending democracy for no valid reasons and punishing the people. The decision to continue the same Model Code of Conduct in these states appears highly arbitrary and unjustified,” he said.