A video being circulated widely on social media claims that Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders breached the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by distributing cash and gifts among voters.
The Facebook post reads: “DMK cash distribution. Voters are being purchased?”
The above post can be seen here (Archive)
Fact check
NewsMobile fact checked the above claim and found it to be false.
Following a reverse image search of the video keyframes, the NM team traced a Facebook post from January 2024, featuring the viral content. Here, a DMK Union secretary from Vailankanni, Thomas Alva Edison, is identified and tagged as the individual distributing gifts.
The video was uploaded before the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, which commenced on 16 March 16, 2024, for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Additionally, in another Facebook post, dated 2 January, 2024, featuring the same video, we observed the hashtag #newyearparty. The last frame of the video shows the entrance of the building adorned with a “Happy New Year 2024” banner.
Upon reviewing the DMK’s list of 21 Lok Sabha election candidates, it was noted that the party was not contesting candidates in the Nagapattinam constituency, including Vailankanni, as part of a seat-sharing arrangement with ally CPI.
Moreover, Edison addressed the viral clip in a video posted on Facebook on 3 April, 2024, refuting allegations of distributing money. He clarified that the video depicted him distributing sweets and calendars to individuals and party members who visit him every New Year’s Day. Edison asserted that the claims were politically motivated.
Hence, we can conclusively say that new year clip has been falsely linked to the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
This story was originally published by NewsMobile as part of the Shakti Collective. Apart from the headline, excerpt and introduction, this story has not been edited by ThePrint.