The Election Commission of India (ECI) has said that the dates for the bye-polls in Tamil Nadu will be announced after ‘situation becomes okay’ in the state. Speaking to reporters while announcing the polls in five states – Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana – Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said that the date of polls in two constituencies in Tamil Nadu will be announced later.
“Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan has written to the Commission that there are forecasts of cyclones and rain, and hence not to announce the dates now,” OP Rawat told the reporters in the press conference. He also said that she requested him to announce the dates after the state government ascertains that things are okay.
Rawat also said that a case related to the elections was filed in the Madras High Court on Friday, for which the court has fixed October 23 for hearing. “So keeping in mind these two factors, Tamil Nadu byelections will be announced separately on a later date,” he said.
The two constituencies that are vacant without a legislator are Thiruvarur and Tirupparankundram. Tirupparankundram seat became vacant after the death of AIADMK MLA AK Bose on August 2 while the Thiruvarur constituency post became vacant following the death of the five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M Karunanidhi, on August 7.
However, it is being reported that monsoon is not the only reason for the deferment of byelections in the state because there have been instances when polls were held smoothly during the monsoon season in the state. The RK Nagar bye-polls were held in December 2017 to fill the vacancy following the demise of the former CM J Jayalalithaa.
The verdict on the 18 MLA disqualification case (which is expected anytime soon) and the ongoing political unrest involving the ruling AIADMK and the TTV Dinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) are also speculated to be the reason for postponing the bye-polls.
The election to the five states will be held from November 12 to December 7 in phases and the counting for all the states will be done on December 11.