‘By-election to Gudiyattam seat unlikely in near future’

The bypoll was caused by the death of DMK MLA S Kathavarayan who himself enjoyed the perks of office for only a year as he also won the seat through a bypoll caused by the disqualification of the then AIADMK MLA C Jayanthi Padmanaban who switched allegiance to the AMMK.

“However the State government has to go according to the rule book” a senior party leader said.

“With the new government having to take charge by May next year, state elections will have to be held in April for which the month long campaign will have to start in March. Even if the Gudiyattam bypoll is announced immediately, it can be held only in September considering the campaigning for nearly 30 days needed. So for partymen are not interested in spending huge amounts just to win a seat for a 6 month period” he added.

An indication to this was seen when Vellore district DMK president Mohammed Saqhy demanded to know if the election should be held at all at a meeting chaired by collector A Shanmuga Sundaram to check EVMs in the presence of party representatives.

Shanmuga Sundaram placated him by stating that it was an election commission requirement. Though moves were made to check EVMs a week ago, it was put off when the Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) engineer deputed to oversee the work, fell victim to COVID and was hospitalised.