Chennai:
Election Commission (EC) today said it has received nearly 55,000 complaints of violations of Model Code of Conduct regarding defacement of public and private property ahead of the April 24 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu.
Special Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) A Karthik said action has been taken on over 52,000 complaints. Complaints of defacement pertained to over 34,000 public and 20,000 private properties, he said.
Further, a total of Rs 10.25 crore has been seized so far by EC-appointed flying and static teams across the state, besides materials valued at Rs 1.10 crore, he said.
Following complaints from traders and their associations, the EC said they or other individuals could carry upto Rs 10 lakh, but have to declare it to Income Tax and the source of the money, as well as recipient. Politicians cannot carry more than Rs 50,000 in cash, he added.
To a question, CEO Praveen Kumar said religious activities like festivals cannot be used for electioneering.
On DMK's complaint that Commercial Taxes Minister M C Sampath was photographed distributing money in Cuddalore, Kumar said the EC had asked the District Collector to file a report in this regard, but did not elaborate.