With the Assembly Secretariat issuing a notification announcing the vacancy of Thattanchavady Assembly seat on Thursday, political parties have started informal consultations on the strategy to be adopted in case of a by-poll in the constituency.
An order issued by the Speaker on Thursday said the Assembly constituency “shall be deemed to have become vacant from the date of his conviction.”
Last week, the Chief Electoral Officer had advised the Assembly Secretariat to issue a notification announcing vacancy of the seat following the automatic disqualification of Ashok Anand of the All India N.R. Congress following his conviction in a disproportionate assets case by a special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
As the byelection looks imminent, political parties have begun informal consultation on the strategy to be adopted and on candidate selection.
The Communist Party of India, which came runner up in the 2016 Assembly election contesting as a constituent of People’s Welfare Front- DMDK alliance held its executive council meeting on Thursday to discuss the poll strategy.
By securing 5,296 votes, K Sethu alias Sethuselvam of the CPI pushed N. Kaliaperumal (DMK), who contested in alliance with the Congress, to the third spot.
CPI plans meeting
State secretary of CPI A.M. Salim said the executive council had decided to organise a meeting in Thattanchavady constituency on November 11 to work out a strategy for the byelection. It would be attended by former M.P and national executive council member Aziz Pasha, he said. Terming the disqualification as a right step, Mr. Salim said the party had its own pockets of influence and would be ready with a strategy in the coming days.
Minister for Public Works A. Namassivayam, chief of Pradesh Congress Committee, told The Hindu that the party’s strategy would be decided only after an official announcement.
A source in the party said various leaders had held informal consultations. A clear lobbying for the seat had started at various levels, said a party functionary.
Sources in the All India N.R. Congress said various options were being considered on candidate selection. There were reports of Mr. Anand seeking the seat for one of his family members.
The constituency, which is the stronghold of former Chief Minister and AINRC chief N. Rangasamy, has 28,861 voters as per the draft electoral roll published in September this year. It has 15,225 women, 13,633 men and three third gender voters. The constituency includes Vinobha Nagar, Pakkumidianpet, Rajaji Nagar, Gundu Palayam, and Thattanchavady wards.
