Will launch agitation if polls not held on May 23: Karuna

Miffed at the Election Commission deferring the polls to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur Assembly segments in Tamil Nadu, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today alleged it was a "conspiracy" against his party and warned of launching an agitation if polling was not held as per schedule on May 23.
Referring to BJP and PMK moving the court seeking postponement of polls, he asked how many seats the two had won in the other 232 seats, results for which were declared yesterday. The two parties had drawn a blank.
"This is a deliberate conspiracy being hatched against DMK. How many seats have BJP and PMK won? Should not the opinion of DMK, which is contesting there, be sought," he told reporters here.

He alleged that the EC's decision to further defer the polls on the pleas of BJP and PMK "is a planned conspiracy."
"If elections are not held as per schedule (on May 23), I myself will launch an agitation saying that this was a deliberate move," he said.
Karunanidhi charged that EC was working at the behest of AIADMK in this matter.

The Election Commission had earlier made a submission in the Madras High Court that it has decided to further postpone elections to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur assembly seats by three more weeks.
EC had originally postponed the elections from the scheduled May 16 to May 23 following allegations of bribing of voters. Challenging the decision to hold it on May 23, BJP and PMK had moved the High Court, seeking further postponement of polling.

Meanwhile, DMK petitioned the Election Commission to hold the polls as per the earlier postponed schedule of May 23.
Organisation Secretary R S Bharathi said the DMK was "shocked" to know about the Election Commission's decision to further defer the poll.
"There are allegations made in the press by some political parties against DMK as a reason for postponing the elections. When such allegations are made against the DMK, it is just and fair to put us on notice before postponing the elections," Bharathi said.
He said the Election Commission should "recall this decision to uphold democracy".