DMK to move top court against revised rural polls schedule

Stating that the DMK would definitely not be a silent spectator to the “murder of democracy” committed jointly by the state government and the SEC in announcing civic polls, DMK president MK Stalin said that his party has not other option but to move the Supreme Court to conduct the civic polls after completing delimitation exercise and reserving of seats for the SC/STs.

Condemning the SEC for announcing revised poll schedule without complying with the Friday’s order of the Supreme Court, Stalin, in a statement, cited the Supreme Court’s directive on completing “legal formalities” (delimitation and reservation of wards), and said that it is shameful that the SEC has become a puppet of the AIADMK regime by announcing a new poll notification without complying with the Tamil Nadu Delimitation Commission Act 2017, the Tamil Nadu Panchayat’s Act 1994 and clause VI of Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Reservation of seats & rotation of Reserved seats) Rules 1995.

Accusing the SEC of not reading the Supreme Court order and the state government, whose advocate general has assured to conduct polls as per the Supreme Court directive, of disregarding the court directive, Stalin said that it was worrisome that the State Election Commissioner has become a branch secretary of the AIADMK taking acting at the behest of the Chief Minister and Local Administration Minister.

Alleging that in not holding an all-party meeting, the SEC has made a mockery of the objective of conducting free and fair polls, Stalin said the law-abiding people were of the view that the state does not need a SEC and Chief Secretary who have notified polls with an intention that someone shall move the court and obtain stay for the polls.