The Election Commission (EC) has said the decision on announcing a fresh date for the by-election to the Pennagaram Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu will be taken after reviewing (on February 17) the report of the State Chief Electoral Officer on various issues raised by political parties, including complaints of large-scale omissions and additions of voters in the electoral rolls and after their final publication. An EC press release said the decision on the new poll date would be taken keeping all relevant considerations such as school examinations and religious festivals in mind.
Explaining the circumstances which forced the EC to rescind the poll, originally fixed for January 20 this year, it said for notifying the by-election date afresh in 2010, the electoral roll had to be revised with reference to January 1, 2010, as the qualifying date.
The revision exercise was ordered and the final roll was to be published on February 2, 2010, when the Commission received a large number of complaints from several individuals and political parties that names of a large number of ineligible persons had been included and eligible persons deleted from rolls.
