Election Commission Bans A Raja From Election Campaigning For 48 Hours

DMK leader Andimuthu Raja who is also known as A Raja has been barred from campaigning for 48 hours.

The Election Commission (EC) has imposed this restriction after he responded to the complaint issued by the AIADMK for his derogatory remarks against Tamil Nadu's chief minister E Palaniswamy. However, his response didn't satisfy the EC.

"A Raja's speech not only derogatory but also obscene and lower the dignity of the motherhood of women, which is a serious violation of the poll code," said the Election Commission while banning A Raja from campaigning for the Tamil Nadu polls.

Andimuthu Raja denies passing derogatory remarks against Palaniswami

Tamil Nadu's ruling party, AIADMK had filed a complaint with the EC against Andimuthu Raja. This happened after A Raja had allegedly insulted Palaniswami during an election campaign in Thousand Lights constituency on March 26. He had allegedly said that Palaniswami is a “child of bad relationship and a premature born child.” However, he completely denied insulting Palaniswami.

“I have not spoken anything which is violative of Model Code of Conduct, which is obscene or which will lower the dignity of the motherhood of women, much less any other provision of law,” he said. He also demanded for a copy of the complaint sent by the AIADMK to the EC.

A Raja also added that he had used a simile while responding to Palaniswami's comment on another DMK leader, MK Stalin.

“In Tamil oratory, a simile is a well-accepted norm. In my speech, the evolution of the political heights and their means of MK Stalin and Edappadi Palanisami were compared by me through a simile as newborn babies for the easy understanding of the common mass,” A Raja said.

Many BJP leaders such as PM Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah have slammed A Raja for passing derogatory remarks.