SC to hear DMK plea seeking bypolls in three TN Assembly seats on Mar 15

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), seeking a direction for the Election Commission to notify bypolls to three vacant Assembly seats, along with 18 others for which by-elections have been scheduled on April 18, on March 15.

The petition filed by the DMK sought a direction for the Election Commission to notify by-elections and publish a schedule of elections in Aravakurichi, Ottapidaram and Tiruparankundram assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, along with 18 others for which by-elections have been scheduled on April 18 alongside Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu.

Last Month, DMK president MK Stalin had issued a statement which read: "In order to have an alliance with the AIADMK, BJP has given assurances for not conducting by-elections in 21 assembly constituencies along with LS elections. I would ask the Election Commission of India to use its Constitutional freedom to conduct by-elections for 21 assembly constituencies along with the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu."

"If the Election Commission of India collides with the BJP, it will be a historic error and a black chapter in the election history of India," warned Stalin.

On March 4, the Communist Party of India (CPI) and DMK signed a poll pact on two constituencies for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

On the other hand, BJP and AIADMK have also stitched a deal to fight the general elections together in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

In the 235-member Assembly, the AIADMK has 115 members followed by the DMK with 88 and the Congress eight, besides others. 21 seats are still vacant.

Tamil Nadu will vote on April 18 and counting of votes will be held on May 23.