Stop social media campaign: EC to DMK Chief Karunanidhi

On the eve of the polls, the Election Commission today directed DMK Chief M Karunanidhi to stop the party's social media campaign and sought an explanation as to why action should not be taken against him for "violating" its code of conduct.

The action by the Commission, which wanted the explanation from the DMK President by Tuesday evening, came on a complaint from the ruling AIADMK's Information Technology(IT)Wing. Tamil Nadu goes to polls tomorrow.

In a related poll matter, the AIADMK responded while the DMK sought more time to the show cause notice issued by the EC yesterday to their chiefs in which it has asked them to explain how they intend to raise the money to distribute the freebies they have promised in their mainifestos.

Commission sources said the AIADMK responded to the show cause notice while the DMK sought two more days. They were given time till 5 PM today.

"Matter is under consideration," they said.

On the social media campaign issue, the communication from Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni to Karunanidhi said telecast/broadcast of all political advertisement in all electronic form should be "stopped 48 hours before the day of close of poll."

The AIADMK had complained that DMK was "doing campaigning in social media in favour of" Karunanidhi and that it was promoting its manifestos among voters.

Citing EC guidelines, Lakhoni said during this 48-hour window, no persons shall, among others, convene or address public meetings or processions or propagate any election matter.

"I am therefore to direct you to stop posting/displaying of such political propaganda/campaign in the social media immediately on receipt of this letter and to offer your explanation as to why action should not be taken against you for violating the code of conduct of Election Commission of India on or before 5 PM on May 17, 2016," he said.

'Aspire' K Swaminathan of the AIADMK IT Wing, which had filed the complaint with the EC, told PTI that "this is not the first time DMK is going beyond EC rules.""This time they have taken it to the social media," he said.

The Election Commission had last night issued show cause notices to AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi for violating model code, saying their election manifestos do not "substantially" fulfil its guidelines.

The poll panel had given them time till 5 PM today to respond "to explain your stand for non-compliance of the guidelines of the Commission and also reflect the rationale for the promises made in your manifesto and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirement for the same."

It had warned that if the two failed to respond to the show cause notice, it will take "further appropriate action" against their parties without further reference to them."

The show cause notices were based on complaints from people regarding the election manifestos.