The Madras High Court has scheduled a hearing for two urgent writ petitions regarding alleged cash-linked inducements by candidates of the DMK and AIADMK before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on April 23. Advocate A.P. Suryaprakasam presented the case against DMK candidates, while a separate plea by advocate K. Raveendran concerning an AIADMK candidate will be heard concurrently if both petitions are numbered by the end of the day.
Suryaprakasam’s petition accuses DMK candidates of distributing Rs 8,000 coupons to voters, linked to a manifesto promise for non-income tax-paying homemakers, which is conditional on the party winning. This premature distribution is seen as a direct inducement to voters, raising concerns about the fairness of the electoral process. The petitioner highlighted the widespread availability of videos and eyewitness accounts of the coupon distribution, criticizing the election authorities for alleged inaction despite a complaint filed on April 15.
In a separate petition, Raveendran alleged that AIADMK candidate Royapuram Mano, also known as R. Manohar, contesting from the Harbour constituency in Chennai, distributed Rs 10,000 tokens to voters. These tokens, equipped with QR codes displaying the AIADMK’s symbol, were perceived as a promise of post-election monetary benefits, potentially violating the Model Code of Conduct. The petitioner urged the Election Commission of India, the Chief Electoral Officer, and the Returning Officer of the Harbour constituency to seize the tokens and take necessary actions.
