Election Commission bars DMK’s Raja from campaigning for 48 hours

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 1

The Election Commission has issued an order debarring DMK leader A Raja from campaigning for 48 hours after finding him guilty of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for making derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his mother.

Madras HC rejects plea against order

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Thursday dismissed DMK MP A Raja’s plea for urgent hearing of a writ petition challenging the order of the Election Commission, which barred him from canvassing for 48 hours, besides removed him from the list of star campaigners. PTI

Offensive remark: Shah lashes out at DMK

Thirukoyilur (TN): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday hit out at the DMK over its leader A Raja’s alleged vulgar remarks against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami’s mother, saying it showed the party had no regard for women. The “mothers and sisters” of the state should teach a “lesson” to the DMK in the April 6 Assembly polls by defeating it, he said. PTI

Reprimanding Raja for violating the code of conduct, the poll panel also delisted his name from the list of star campaigners of the DMK and debarred him from campaigning for 48 hours “with immediate effect”.

Assembly polls will be held in Tamil Nadu on April 6 in a single phase for which campaigning will end on April 4.

“The commission also advises you to be watchful and not make intemperate, indecent, derogatory, obscene remarks and lower the dignity of women in future during election campaign,” the poll panel said in its order.

Referring to his speeches, the EC pointed out that Raja had allegedly said (DMK leader MK) “Stalin is a child of good relationship and good birth while Palaniswami is a child of bad relationship and a premature born child”. The EC also referred to some other remarks made by Raja against the state CM.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Thursday alleged that women in the state would not have protection if the DMK was voted to power in the April 6 Assembly election.

Referring to the alleged offensive remarks made by DMK MP A Raja recently over his birth, the CM said DMK chief MK Stalin “failed” to condemn the comments of his party leaders on women.