EC asks DMK not to distribute free CTV in Tamil Nadu

Reportedly, the EC cautioned the party going against the order and said that strict action would be taken against the party, if it breached the code of conduct.

"District Collectors and the Heads of Departments have been asked to stop forthwith distribution of free color TVs till the elections process is over," Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar said.

Distributing TV is DMK’s flagship scheme
Reports claim that giving out free color TVs to the public has been DMK’s flagship scheme since the Assembly polls in 2006.

“Government has covered a major section of the population under the scheme and it recently ordered procurement of 10 lakh CTV sets for distribution among the rest. Officials had already distributed tokens to beneficiaries to receive the sets,” a DMK spokesperson informed.

Praveen Kumar said that no financial grants of any sort or promises pertaining to the development of roads, and free drinking water provisions should be announced by any ministers.

Also, the EC said that any commitments to the public which can influence the voters' decision in choosing that party should be refrained, during the campaign for the April 13 Assembly polls.

“The ministers shall not combine their official visit with electioneering work and shall not make use of official machinery or personnel during electioneering," Kumar said.

Parties seek change in election dates
Meanwhile, the BJP and CPM party’s Tamil Nadu unit has demanded that the EC consider revision of the election dates as they would clash with the New Year celebrations in the state.

"Though the government had revised Tamil New Year from the Tamil month of Chithirai in April to Thai in January), a large section of people still celebrate it on April 14 and prepare for the festivities days ahead of it," BJP state president Pon Radhakrishnan said.

He also said that counting of the votes scheduled for May, will leave scope for tampering of the electronic voting machines.