Jayalalitha, Karunanidhi issued notices by EC for violation of poll guidelines

Ahead of the 16 May Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission, on 14 May, issued showcause notices to AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and DMK President M Karunanidhi.

The showcause notice is based on complaints from people regarding the election manifestos. The two notices - which are said to be similarly worded - claim that prima facie, the manifestos of the DMK and the AIADMK "have not substantially fulfilled the guidelines of the Commission".

The poll panel gave them time till 5 PM on May 15 to respond "to explain your stand for non-compliance of the guidelines of the Commission and also reflect the rationale for the promises made in your manifesto and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirement for the same."

The Commission warned that if the two leaders fail to respond to the show cause notice, it will take "further appropriate action" against their parties without further reference to them."

--PTI