By IANS
New Delhi : The DMK Friday petitioned the Election Commission to penalise AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha for committing "perjury" in giving false evidence while filing nomination papers for the 2001 Tamil Nadu assembly polls.
A delegation of DMK MPs, including C. Kuppusamy and R. Shunmugasundaram, submitted a petition to Election Commissioner Navin Chawla here.
They demanded legal action against Jayalalitha for "giving false evidence before a public servant".
According to the DMK, in the 2001 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, Jayalalitha had filed her nomination papers from four constituencies. She first filed papers from Andipetti on April 6, 2001, then from one more constituency on April 18. On April 24, she simultaneously filed papers for Pudukottai and Bhuvangari.
Under the Representation of People's Act (RPA), a candidate is entitled to file nominations from a maximum of two constituencies. And while filing the nomination, the candidate has to swear on oath saying: "I have not been and shall not be nominated to more than two constituencies."
The DMK says that when she filed nominations to two additional constituencies on April 24, she was aware that she had already filed two previous ones. It maintains that the AIADMK chief lied on oath when she told the returning officers that she had not filed nominations for more than two seats.
DMK MP Kupusamy had written to the Election Commission demanding action under the Indian Penal Code.
The MPs say the commission ignored their pleas. They then approached the Madras High Court, which has now given a ruling against Jayalalitha.
The DMK members have urged the Election Commission to register a case of perjury against the former Tamil Nadu chief minister.