1.68 lakh cases of defacement removed in Tamil Nadu, says Election Commission

More than 1.68 lakh cases of defacement have been removed since the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into force in Tamil Nadu, and the First Information Reports have been registered in 61 of them.

According to an official release, “With regard to MCC provisions, statues of deceased leaders need not be covered. However, photographs of politically active leaders displayed in public places or government buildings must be covered immediately upon enforcement of the MCC.”

It also issued a clarification in respect of cases wherein individuals — including members of the public, political party representatives, candidates, or traders — were found carrying cash. “Upon verification [of valid documentary evidence or written explanation for the source and purpose of the funds], if the authorities are satisfied that the cash is not meant for distribution to voters, such amounts will be returned to the rightful owner and will not be seized. In case of any grievance over the decision of the authorities, an appeal can be made to the District Grievance Committee.”

Under the prescribed norms, an Assembly election candidate is permitted to incur an election expenditure of up to ₹40 lakh. “To effectively monitor such expenditure, a robust multi-tier election expenditure monitoring mechanism has been established at the district level under the supervision of the respective District Election Officers.”

To ensure stringent enforcement, all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu have been equipped with dedicated surveillance teams, including flying squads and static surveillance teams. Twenty-five election expenditure monitoring agencies, such as the Income Tax Department and the Customs Department, are also engaged in monitoring and surveillance, the ECI said in the release.

As of Tuesday, cash and goods valued at ₹23.28 crore were seized. To facilitate public participation in ensuring a free and fair election, district election control rooms have been established in all districts. Complaints received from members of the public are being promptly acted upon. The District Election Officers are also closely monitoring adherence to the MCC by all stakeholders, the ECI said.