Speaking at a public meeting in Namakkal, Jayalalithaa criticized the Election Commission for including the meeting expenses in the candidate's account if his name or picture is found on the dais or meeting venue.
"People flock to my meetings to hear my speech and we do not fetch people from various places as alleged by the opposition, especially the DMK, which is afraid of defeat in this election," said Jayalalithaa.
"The Election Commission includes the expenses of the meeting in the candidate's account if the star speaker of the party mentions his name or his picture is found. This is totally unacceptable. Even if people come to the meeting venue on their own how can it be included in the candidate's account," asked Jayalalithaa.
It has been the practice that people come to hear political leaders and erect banners and cutouts during election campaigns. This has been the norm since 1952 during Anna's period and also during my 32 years of election campaigning, the chief minister said.
"It is only in the 2014 election that the Election Commission imposed such conditions in which even a candidate's name cannot be mentioned in the constituency he is contesting, leave alone the candidate present in the meeting. This is the reason for AIADMK candidate not present here," she said.
Criticizing the model code of conduct, Jayalalithaa said: "Once elections are announced, the functions of a democratically elected government come to a standstill. Even for a small order or decision, the government has to get permission from the Election Commission and this is totally unacceptable and it is a mockery of democracy."
"The party will file a case against the Election Commission as I am not able to mention the candidate's name. I request you to vote for two leaves on April 24," she said.
Apart from lashing out at the Election Commission, Jayalalithaa also criticized the UPA and DMK for its failures on various fronts.
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