BJP seeks ECI action against TVK over children in bypoll campaign
BJP's Nainar Nagenthran has asked the ECI to act against TVK functionaries and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay over the alleged use of children in a bypoll campaign.
BJP State unit president Nainar Nagenthran on Friday objected to an alleged instance of children being drawn into the election campaign of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ahead of the coming bypolls, and asked the Election Commission of India to take action against those responsible.
In a post on his social media handle, Mr. Nagenthran shared a video clip and questioned whether Chief Minister and TVK president C. Joseph Vijay was unaware that involving children in an election campaign amounts to an offence. He claimed that schoolchildren were made to take part in campaigning in the Madurantakam constituency, where a bypoll is due, and were handed TVK flags to hold.
The BJP leader urged the poll panel to initiate proceedings against the TVK functionaries concerned and against Mr. Vijay under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016.
He further alleged that the episode was part of a continuing pattern, saying the TVK had similarly sought to involve children during its campaign for the Assembly elections that concluded recently.