Since the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect in Tamil Nadu, more than 1.68 lakh cases of defacement have been cleared and First Information Reports have been registered in 61 of them.
According to an official statement: “In view of the provisions of the MCC, statues of deceased leaders need not be covered. However, photographs of politically active leaders displayed in public places or government buildings must be covered immediately after the enforcement of the MCC.”
It also issued clarification on cases where individuals – including members of the public, representatives of political parties, candidates or traders – were found to be carrying cash. “After verification (of valid documentary evidence or a written explanation of the source and purpose of the funds), if the authorities are satisfied that the cash is not intended for distribution to voters, such amounts will be returned to the rightful owner and will not be confiscated. Any complaint against the authorities’ decision can be appealed to the District Grievance Committee.”
As per the prescribed norms, an assembly election candidate can incur election expenses up to ₹40 lakh. “To effectively monitor these expenditures, a robust multi-level mechanism for monitoring election expenditures has been established at the district level under the supervision of the respective district election officers.”
To ensure strict enforcement, all the 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu have been equipped with dedicated surveillance teams, including flying squads and static surveillance teams. Twenty-five election expenditure monitoring agencies, such as the Income Tax Department and the Customs Department, are also involved in monitoring and surveillance, the ECI said in a report.
Cash and goods worth ₹23.28 crore were seized on Tuesday. To facilitate public participation in ensuring free and fair elections, precinct election control rooms have been set up in all constituencies. Complaints received from the public are dealt with immediately. District election officials are also closely monitoring the MCC compliance by all stakeholders, the ECI said.
Published – 17 March 2026 19:11 IST
