Tamil Nadu elections: Two weeks on, poll officials lack clarity on whether to mask names of deceased leaders

CHENNAI: Nearly two weeks after the model code of conduct came into force, its enforcement in Chennai is marked by confusion and inconsistency. With no clear, uniform guidance, returning officers are interpreting rules on their own, prompting overzealous action in some constituencies and near inaction in others.

The disparity is stark on the ground, where identical references to deceased leaders are being handled in different ways across constituencies. The ‘Amma' on sign boards at Amma Unavagams, especially at Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni and Egmore constituencies, have been covered or painted over. While officials said the action was in line with MCC, names of other deceased leaders such as Anna (Annadurai) remain intact at Anna Centenary Library, and other places.

When asked if there was a clear-cut guideline or instruction given to them, a deputy returning officer from a constituency said instructions were given not to cover statues of deceased leaders, but there was no direction pertaining to their names. "We have left out names of deceased leaders on street signs and canteens. The lack of guidelines may have led to other DROs taking matters into their own hands," the DRO said.

However, the statue rule, too, has not been enforced properly. At Kotturpuram, statues of MGR and Jayalalithaa were covered, but the Karunanidhi statue at Ashok Pillar was left untouched. Even flexes and banners, put up by govt and opposition parties, were left untouched at T Nagar's Bazullah Road.

Chief electoral officer Archana Patnaik was unavailable for comment. S Jacob, nodal officer for MCC in the city, said that as per the rule, street signs and boards bearing leaders' names would be left untouched as people have to identify a location. "Schemes bearing names of leaders, imprinted on nameboards, would also not be removed/covered. Flexes, banners and posters of existing leaders are banned, and we have removed more than 50,000 such items since the code was enforced. I will instruct returning officers not to cover/mark schemes bearing names of leaders, such as Amma Unavagams," he said.