An MLA and Congress candidate in Musiri constituency for the coming Assembly elections has filed a writ petition in the Madras High Court seeking a direction to election authorities to prevent an Independent candidate in the constituency from announcing free gifts to voters.
The petitioner, M. Rajasekaran of Thiruparaithurai alleged that an Independent candidate, K. Kannaiyan in his election manifesto had openly announced that he would give three cents of land to those who canvassed votes for him and a gold coin to one lakh voters. The model code of conduct of the Election Commission (EC) specifically barred this kind of corrupt practice. Unfortunately, the Commission was a silent spectator to this kind of freebies announced in the election manifestos of political parties and Independent candidates. The petitioner said he had filed a complaint before the competent authority against the practice. When the authorities were preventing other attempts at corrupt practices by seizing the material and gifts likely to be used in the election, they should prevent advertisements and other hand bills announcing freebies. There was no point in just registering a case and later on filing an election petition in court.
Senior counsel, K.M. Vijayan, said it was the EC's duty to take all preventive measures to curb corrupt practices.
The senior counsel representing EC, G. Rajagopalan, said if the incidents mentioned in the writ petition were factually correct, preventive measures should be taken against persons concerned. The First Bench consisting of Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam said in view of the submissions made by the EC, it was disposing of the petition.
