Election Commission likely to decide on bypolls to 4 vacant seats by May 19: Sources

According to EC sources, May 19 is a crucial date in this regard as the last phase of polls will be held for 59 constituencies spread over eight states on this day. However, a final decision on the issue is yet to be taken and the EC will submit a report whenever the matter comes before the Supreme Court, the sources told DT Next.

The DMK has already petitioned the EC and has moved the apex court over this. Whether to conduct the polls immediately or later is the question pending before the EC and the matter will be finalised next week, sources noted.

Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo had sent all the papers in this regard to the EC for further action. Sahoo had also told the media that the State machinery was ready for the bypolls at any time.

“There are no hurdles for Ottapidaram, Tirupparankundram and Hosur Assembly seats. I understand that the CEO also expressed that the poll machinery in TN is ready for the bypolls. Now it is for the EC to consider and take necessary action,” former Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta said. However, the EC has a window period of six months to take furtherdecisions, the retired bureaucrat added.

DMK organising secretary RS Bharathi in his petition to the EC had urged the commission to consider the plight of the people of the Ottapidaram, Aravakurichi and Tirupparankundram Assembly constituencies and had requested for early polls along with election to the 18 Assembly seats.