Rejecting Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's charge that Election Commission was placing restrictions on campaigning, the state's Chief Election Officer Saturday said the campaign deadline of 10 pm was fixed by the EC in 2005 itself after a Supreme Court order.
"The Supreme Court had ordered that there should not be any campaign after 10 pm in both urban and rural areas. The Election Commission issued a notification in 2005 banning electioneering after 10 pm," CEO Naresh Gupta told reporters in Chennai.
Gupta said the SC order came after a petition was filed in the apex court seeking a direction to restrain campaigning after 10 pm, as it was causing noise pollution and disturbing residents.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo had recently alleged that the Election Commission was imposing restrictions on campaign timings in rural areas following demands from opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
Gupta said the Election Commission has ordered that all MLA offices should be closed once the campaign time is over.
"If MLA offices were allowed to remain open, partymen will come there and it will be used for party activities. Except those who are under Z or Z-plus category, political leaders will not be permitted to use government guest houses," he said.
The CEO said the adding of names to voters' list would be completed one week before the date of filing of nominations.
"However bulk applications for addition to voters' list will not be allowed," he clarified.
To a query on the central government's announcement on reservation for OBC students in IITs and IIMs, Naresh Gupta said, "The Centre's announcement covers the entire nation and it does not pertain to a state."