TN: As model code of conduct comes into effect, leaders portraits, graffiti removed

Chennai: Huge portraits of AIADMK leaders: M. G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa besides publicity material displayed at the State Secretariat were removed and graffiti effaced, as the election commission's model code of conduct came into force from March 10 following the notification of the Lok Sabha election.

With the publicity material and boards removed, the corridors of the Secretariat greeted the visitors with the voters' awareness campaign on Monday. Meanwhile, the flying squads set up by the Election Commission to oversee the effective implementation of the code of conduct for the April 18 Lok Sabha election in the State, seized about Rs. 10 lakh in cash from a person during a vehicle check at Kosavampalayam Road, Palladam in Tirupur, on Monday.

Sources said the squad undertook a check in a car proceeding to Pollachi from Tiruppur and found one Loganathan had Rs 10 lakh in Rs 500 denominations in his possession. As he failed to produce documentary evidence claiming ownership, the officials seized the cash and deposited it with the Palladam tahsildar.

People are permitted to carry a maximum of Rs 50,000 with them and any sum exceeding it should be accounted for. The squads will seize money exceeding that sum and the owners should submit proper documents to get back the money. "We will also alert the income tax department about the seizure of cash and the details of the carrier," an official said. Also, posters, election materials, liquor and drugs will be seized and cases will be registered.

Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo who had sought additional central forces to ensure a smooth conduct of the Lok Sabha election, said a total of 7,316 sensitive polling booths have been identified in the state.

Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G. Prakash who chaired an all-political party meeting at Ripon Buildings here on Monday briefed the party members of the model code of conduct.