The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday decided to cancel the bye-polls to the Thiruvarur assembly constituency of Tamil Nadu that was slated to be held on the January 28. The lastest ECI move comes a week after the Poll body had announced the bye-elections.
Earlier on Thursday, almost all political parties in the state recommended postponed of by-elections as relief and rehabilitation work after Cyclone Gaja is still underway in the district. Communist Party of India‘s national secretary and MP, D.Raja, gave a petition to the Poll body, seeking cancellation of the notification that stated to hold by-elections.
However, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) had announced their candidates for the by-poll scheduled for Jan 28.
Tiruvarur Collector and District Election Officer L. Nimal Raj held a meeting on Saturday with political parties, which had all demanded that the by-election be deferred.
As a consequence of the cancellation of the notification, actions, and steps taken by the Returning Officer for the constituency were “declared null and void.” In its order on Sunday, the Election Commission stated that the by-election would be held in due course when “the situation becomes conducive to holding free, fair and peaceful election.”
The Poll body, in its order, also stated that the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu Girija Vaidyanathan had written to it on December 3 last month, explaining the ground situation in Thiruvarur after Cyclone Gaja. In the same letter, the Chief Secretary also urged the Election Commission not to hold bye-elections to the 18 constituencies, which are vacant following the disqualification of 18 rebel AIADMK legislators and are need to be filled as per rules by April 2019.
The Thiruvarur assembly seat became vacant after the death of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi on August 7, 2018.
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