Bypoll deadline nears for 2 constituencies

According to informed election department sources, the bypolls to Tiruvarur and Tiruparankundram have to be conducted by January 4 and January 7 as per the six-month vacancy period time specified under the Election Commission rules.

But with time running out for political parties, they are waiting for the EC to respond in the matter and there are lot of enquiries in this regard, informed poll officials told DT Next.

Further, with the petition pending before the Madras High Court, the EC is likely to decide on the status of the two vacant assembly seats by next week, sources said. Chief electoral officer Sathyabrata Sahoo has already communicated about the issue with Election Commission and the final decision will be taken in New Delhi, sources said.

Tiruparankundram legislator AK Bose died on August 2 and DMK leader M Karunanidhi representing Tiruvarur died on August 7. The Election Commission is to fill the vacant seats within six months of time, January first week is the cut off time as per EC norms, sources explained.

“Taking January first week into consideration, the EC has to give at least six weeks’ time for the political parties to prepare for the bypolls. We are also eagerly waiting for the Election Commission to announce the dates. If the dates are not announced by next week, then there may be bypolls for these two seats along with the ensuing Parliament polls,” opined K Pandiarajan, Minister for Tamil Development andArchaeology.

As for the vacant 18 Assembly seats are concerned, the AIADMK has began the poll works. “In Poonamalee constituency committee members for the 256 booths have been identified. To pep up the party workers four zonal meetings have been conducted and putting up of graffiti is now being taken up in the constituency,” the Minister said.

“Tiruvarur constituency represented by DMK leader M Karunanidhi should be a prestigious battle for the DMK, but as usual they are silent. We are confident of winning both Tiruvarur and Tiruparankundram. The clock is already ticking as the January first week is the crucial time before which the EC should fill the vacancy, but we don’t know why the ECI is dragging on the issue,” rued Sukumar Babu, organising secretary AMMK. They delayed the bypolls sighting monsoon, but now it is mandatory for the EC to conduct the bypolls by first week of January so that the constitutional requirement is fulfilled. At least if they announce by next week parties will have at least five weeks’ time to field their candidates and campaign, Sukumar Babu added.

Meanwhile, the AIADMK Ministers and AMMK functionaries have scaled up the poll works in all the 20 vacant assembly seats.