EC cancels polls to two Tamil Nadu Assembly seats

It usually only takes such a harsh step when there is evidence that muscle power has been used

In a first in India's electoral history, the Election Commission (EC) today decided to rescind the notification and conduct polls afresh "in due course of time" in two Tamil Nadu Assembly seats following evidence of use of money to influence voters.

Earlier, the EC had on two occasions postponed polls in the Aravkurichi and Tanjavur Assembly constituencies following reports of large scale distribution of money and gifts to voters by the candidates and political parties.

Initially, the polls were postponed from May 16 to May 23. However, on May 21, the EC had decided to once again postpone the polls to June 13.

Tamil Nadu went to the polls on May 16 and AIADMK returned to power for a second consecutive term.

The EC said that it took the decision after considering reports of observers, special teams of central observers, report of the special team of observers of Aravkurichi and Tanjavur constituencies and representations of contesting candidates.

"...The EC is satisfied that the election process in the two constituencies, because of inducing electors by candidates and political parties by offering money and other gifts to woo them in their favour, is seriously vitiated and cannot be allowed to proceed and ought to be rescinded so that fresh elections may be conducted de novo in these two constituencies when the atmosphere becomes conducive to the holding of free and fair elections after a reasonable lapse of time," an official said quoting a Commission order.

The Commission usually takes such a harsh step when there are evidences that muscle power has been used to influence voters. But cancelling polls following use of money to induce voters is so far unheard of.

The DMK, meanwhile, today once again petitioned the Commission to hold polling in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur Assembly constituencies before June 6 and not on June 13 due to the Ramzan season and Rajya Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu.

Referring to a Madras High Court directive to the EC to take a decision on the polling date for the two Assembly seats by May 27, DMK said it had not yet received response from the EC to its request made earlier in this regard.

"We have not yet received any communication from you regarding our request, which is ordered to be considered preferably before May 27, i.e. yesterday. Hence, we are submitting this reminder," DMK Organisation Secretary R S Bharathi said in a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi.