Joining the chorus on the demand for revising the poll schedule for the Tamil Nadu Assembly, MDMK leader Vaiko today asked the Election Commission to revise it, saying the exam season and the traditional Tamil New Year day came right during the peak of the campaign.
In a letter to the EC, Mr. Vaiko said exams for classes X and XII as well as university exams were scheduled between March 2 and April 11 and the electioneering could affect the students.
“The election campaign includes canvassing at the door steps of the voters and addressing public meetings using sound amplifier. This would cause disturbance to students preparing for the exams,” he said.
He said the first day of Tamil month “Chithirai”, the 14th of April, was traditionally being celebrated as Tamil New year Day (though the ruling DMK had revised it to Thai in January).
Further, April 14, 16 and 17 were State government holidays on account of birthday of B R Ambedkar, Mahaveer Jayanthi and a Sunday, respectively, he pointed out saying that many persons may take leave on April 15 to visit places of their choice.
“The electorate who wish to make these trips would leave their residences on April 12. Therefore considerable percentage of electorate would not be able to remain at their residence to exercise their franchise,” he said.
He suggested that notification for the April 13 polls be postponed and polling date be fixed for the first week of May both in Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
