The Election Commission of India (EC) on Friday rejected the replies filed by AIADMK deputy general secretary T.T.V. Dinakaran to its notices on complaints challenging the appointment of V.K. Sasikala (since jailed) as general secretary of the party, holding that as per its records, he was not recognised as an office-bearer of the AIADMK.
“In this regard, it is stated that Dinakaran is not an office-bearer of your party as per the Commission’s record,” EC’s Secretary Pramod Kumar Sharma said in a letter addressed to Sasikala, who is presently lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Prison in Bengaluru.
Mr. Sharma said that the Commission had received five different communications from Mr. Dinakaran on February 20 and on February 28, in response to its three letters issued on February 2, 15 and 17. The EC had issued notices to Sasikala on separate complaints filed by Rajya Sabha MP V. Maithreyan and 11 other MPs, who have joined the rebel AIADMK headed by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.
Refusing to take on record the replies filed by Mr. Dinakaran justifying her appointment, the EC said, “Communications from the party should be signed by an authorised office bearer. Hence, the reply should either be submitted under your (Sasikala) own signature or you may duly authorise somebody to do so on your behalf.” It directed her to file the response by March 10.
Minor issue
Terming the EC’s action of sending back the reply as a “minor issue,” AIADMK (Sasikala) spokesperson Vaigaichelvan said the reply should have been originally accompanied by an authorisation letter from Sasikala. “Such course of action will now be adopted, after taking approval from her.” He added that as per party rules, in the absence of the general secretary, it is for the deputy general secretary to carry out his or her functions.
