Dinakaran, who was elected last month as an independent MLA from R.K. Nagar in Chennai, might b disqualified as an MLA and barred for the next three years from contesting any kind of polls if the poll expenses account he would soon be submitting is found to have crossed the limit of Rs.28 lakhs.

A report about the R.K. Nagar by-polls, held last month, has been submitted to the Election Commission of India by the State Election Commission. ECI’s observers would be arriving in Chennai on 23rd January to inspect/audit the statement of poll expenses Dinakaran would be submitting.  If he is found to have spent more than Rs.28 lakhs for campaigning, he might be disqualified as an MLA in the first place.

Complaints of large-scale indulgence of cash-for-vote practice by Dinakaran’s supporters surfaced during the run-up to the by-polls. A few of the supporters were arrested after the by-polls for bribing voters to the tune of Rs.6000 and Rs.10000 per vote. Tamil Nadu’s Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhani submitted his report on the by-poll to the ECI which has deputed two officials to visit Chennai on 23rd January.

As per the existing rules, expenditure statement would have to be filed by all the candidates within 30 days of the completion of the poll process. If a candidate is found to have spent more than Rs.28 lakhs, he might be disqualified if his explanation is found unacceptable by the observers. Disqualification as an MLA would also bar the particular candidate from facing any polls for the next three years.