EC: DMK asked to explain by today, AIADMK by tomorrow

New Delhi, May 6 (UNI) The Election Commission has sought explanations from the DMK by this evening and from the AIADMK by tomorrow for allegedly using excess number of vehicles for the election rallies held by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Union Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran respectively.

EC sources said today the commission has, meanwhile, rejected the explanation given by the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) for a similar violation during a public meeting addressed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi in Chennai on April 25.

In two notices to the ruling AIADMK, the EC said Ms Jayalalithaa had used about 80 vehicles during her visit to Krishnagiri district on May 1 and 2. As per standing instructions, not more than three vehicles are allowed in a convoy.

''The party has neither taken the permission for using so many vehicles for the said campaign nor all the vehicles had permits exhibited on the windscreen, as prescribed by the commission,'' it said seeking an explanation from the party by this evening.

Similarly, the EC said the AIADMK used a large number of vehicles and buntings, flags and posters in Park Town assembly constituency on May 3. The EC has sought an explanation in this case by tomorrow.

The EC had also taken exception to the use of as many as 34 vehicles by Union Communications Minister and DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran during electioneering in Krishnagiri district on May 3. The EC has sought an explanation from the party by this evening.

Earlier, the commission had issued similar notices to the DMK and its allies in the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) for using a large number of vehicles for a public meeting in Chennai which was addressed by Congress President Sonia Gandhi on April 25.

Rejecting the contention of DPA constituents, the EC said ''the commission had gone through the explanation furnished by the Congress and the DMK and is of the view that the spirit of model code of conduct has not been observed,'' it said.

In their reply to the EC, the CPI had stated that the meeting was organised by the Congress and their leaders participated, while the CPI(M) stated that neither the meeting was organised by them nor their leaders participated in it.

The PMK also stated that they had used only two vehicles for transporting their central ministers.

While the Congress had stated that individuals and groups used vehicles on which it did not have any control, the DMK stated that these did not form part of the convoy but were brought by cadres of alliance parties to attend the meeting, the EC said.

UNI SU/SN LS KN1601