Change poll date in view of Girivalam, says Munnani

Girivalam, is an important activity and a date in the Hindu calendar, falls on Chitra Pournami and this year it coincides with poll date on April 18. An estimated 20 lakh devotees would participate in Girivalam.

The Girivalam will begin at 7.05 pm on April 18 and end at 5.35 pm the next day. Flagging this, the Munnani functionaries said that as many would commence the Girivalam walk before the starting time and this could affect the poll percentage. With the day preceding the polls being a holiday, devotees might assemble in large numbers, the representatives added.

But, Collector Kandasamy said that he had not received any demand in this regard from the Munnani. “The Girivalam starts only after 7 pm on polling day while polls start at 7 am and end by 5 pm. Hence, there is no much chance of poll percentage getting affected,” he added.

The only issue was shifting the ballot boxes to counting centres as both the centres – Shanmuga Higher Secondary School and the regulated market, are adjacent to the Girivalam path. “We will ensure that ballot boxes are shifted to the counting centres with adequate protection and if this becomes problematic, we will then request the Election Commission to change the counting centre” Kandasamy concluded.