Chennai: The Election Commission on Friday rejected AIADMK's response regarding VK Sasikala's elevation as its interim general secretary, saying that TTV Dinakaran, who signed the letter, is not in the poll panel's list of party office bearers.
The Commission has now asked Sasikala to either sign the response herself or by an authorised signatory who is in the Commission's list of AIADMK office bearers and send it again by March 10.
"... Dinakaran (Sasikala's nephew, who was hurriedly reinducted into the party and nominated AIADMK deputy general secretary) is not an office bearer of your party as per the Commission's record... The reply should either be submitted under your own signature or you may duly authorise somebody to do so on your behalf," the poll watchdog said.
The poll panel had on Friday issued notice to Sasikala asking her to explain her appointment as the party's interim general secretary. The letter was sent to Bengaluru’s Parappana Agrahara Prison where she is currently lodged. The Commission asked her to respond by February 28.
The notice comes after senior party leaders challenged her appointment, alleging that it was done in contravention of the party’s constitution..
Copies of two petitions against her appointment filed by Dr. V. Maitreyan and 11 other MPs were forwarded to her.
The petitions were submitted on Thursday, urging the Commission not to approve her elevation.
According to the memorandum, the candidate has to be a primary member for five years in continuation to be eligible for the post.
It pointed out that Sasikala had been removed in 2011 and then taken back the next year.
The 12-member delegation, comprising eight Lok Sabha and two Rajya Sabha MPs, said Sasikala was elected by the party’s general council and not by the primary members.
As per the party’s constitution, the delegation submitted, the general council had powers to only frame policies and programmes, and not to elect the general secretary.
“The Commission has directed that your reply on the aforesaid petitions may be furnished latest by February 28, failing which it will be presumed that you have no comments to offer and the Commission will take appropriate action in the matter,” said the EC notice.
Sasikala was sent to prison after the Supreme Court upheld her conviction in a disproportionate assets case.
