Chidambaram refutes AIADMK's charge

Chennai, Mar 10 (UNI) Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram today denied the AIADMK's charge that he had violated the Model Code of Conduct by participating in the recently-held DMK state conference in Tiruchirapalli.

Terming as ''contrary to truth,'' AIADMK Election Wing Secretary and state Minister O Panneerselvam's complaint to the Election Commission in this regard, the Union Minister said the flight charges had been paid through cheque from his bank account.

He stayed at a private hotel in Tiruchirapalli and cleared the bills through his credit card and also did not use the official car, he explained.

Mr Chidambaram said his office had sent the itinerary of his programme to the Tamil Nadu Government.

Mr Panneerselvam, in a complaint submitted to the EC, alleged that Union Ministers P Chidambaram, Dayanidhi Maran, G K Vasan and E V K S Elangovan had consciously violated the poll code which came into force on March 1.

He said the communication on the Ministers' tour was not sent by their departments' secretary-level officials as laid down by the EC The tour was only to attend the DMK conference in Tiruchirapalli and these Ministers were compelling the State Government to incur public expenditure for promoting the interests of their political allies, he charged.

''They invariably seek accommodation, transport and security, knowing fully well that their visit is purely unofficial,'' he said.

Stating that the expenses incurred by the Centre and the State Governments on their visit should be collected from them, Mr Panneerselvam urged the Election Commission to direct the Union Cabinet Secretary to issue notices to the Ministers asking them to reimburse the expenditure.

UNI AKN VD HT2027