The Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable TV Corporation Ltd should be brought under the control of an IAS officer from the pool of election observers and the “politically-appointed Chairman” should be stopped from intervening in the operations of the cable network, the PMK said in a petition to the Chief Election Commissioner.
Accusing the ruling AIADMK of blocking “TV channels that bring neutral news to the public,” party president G.K. Mani said, “if any TV channel airs news that is against the AIADMK, the TV channel is either blocked totally or pushed to the last lot”.
Mr. Mani alleged the Arasu Cable chose only AIADMK men as operators.
“The AIADMK men operating the district cable TV and Tahsildars are reviewing TV channels daily and block TV channels if any news item supporting opposition parties and criticising the ruling party is telecast,” he said. “To ensure there is no favouritism in allotting channel numbers, they have to be reallocated by the lot method,” Mr. Mani said in his petition.
Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni said he would look into the petition if the issue was brought to his notice from the EC. “I have not received any such petition from them so far. If the EC forwards it, we will provide a suitable reply after looking thoroughly into the issue,” he said.
