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Complaint seeks action from Election Commission of India against Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam over alleged online campaign during silence period
April 22, 2026: A formal complaint has been filed with the Election Commission of India seeking action against Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Vijay, over an alleged plan to conduct an online political campaign during the mandatory “silent period” ahead of polling. The complainants, Chennai residents L Devasagayam and P Adikesavan, have urged Archana Patnaik to ensure electoral secrecy and prevent unlawful activities.
In their submissions, they alleged that the party intended to covertly record votes cast in its favour and circulate the footage on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X to project widespread support and influence voters. They claimed such actions could intimidate rival voters and undermine the integrity of the electoral process, especially if amplified through coordinated online campaigns.
The complainants warned that such practices directly threaten the secrecy of the ballot, a cornerstone of free and fair elections. They have called for real-time monitoring by cyber crime authorities and swift removal of any such content under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The Election Commission is yet to respond to the allegations.