Elections to Thanjavur, Aravakurichi deferred by three weeks

The elections to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu have been postponed further by three weeks, the Election Commission told Madras High Court on Friday.

Meanwhile, demanding the polls in these two constituencies be held as scheduled on May 23, DMK president M.Karunanidhi told reporters that he would lead a protest if the polls are postponed.

Just before Tamil Nadu went to polls on May 16, the poll panel, owing to complaints of bribing of voters and seizures of unaccounted cash in these two constituencies, postponed the polls to May 23, and counting of votes for these two seats would be done on May 25.

However Bharatiya Janata Party's Thanjavur candidate M.S.Ramalingam and PMK's Aravakurichi candidate M.Baskaran and others had filed a petition in the high court praying for cancellation of the polls and ordering elections afresh.

When the petition was heard, the Election Commission told the court that the polls are being deferred by three weeks.

Condemning the poll panel's decision to defer the polls by three weeks, Karunanidhi accused it of favouring the AIADMK which has retained power.

He added that the elections to Rajya Sabha are to be held soon and the votes of these two law makers will be crucial.

--IANS

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