The byelections to 20 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu will take place before the Lok Sabha poll, Chief Election Commissioner O. P. Rawat said on Monday.
Asked whether the Election Commission had worked out a plan for the bypolls, Mr. Rawat told The Hindu, “Nothing has been planned. But byelections will have to be held within six months of the vacancy. That is the law.”
When it was pointed out that there was an expectation in certain quarters that the byelections would be held along with the Lok Sabha poll, Mr. Rawat made it clear that they would not be clubbed with the Lok Sabha election because of the legal position. On the possibility of the stipulated period of six months getting extended, he said: “It will not get extended.”
Vacancies had arisen in 18 seats due to the Madras High Court confirming the disqualification of MLAs owing allegiance to AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran.
In respect of the other two — Tiruvarur and Tirupparanakundram, the death of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi (on August 7) and the AIADMK legislator A.K. Bose (on August 2) had caused vacancies. After the High Court’s verdict, the AMMK decided not to challenge it so that the byelections could take place at the earliest.
During the 2016 Assembly polls, the ruling party had contested in all the 20 seats while the DMK had fielded its nominees in 17 constituencies and its allies in the rest.
Asked for response to Mr. Rawat’s statement, R.S. Bharathi, organising secretary of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and K. P. Munusamy, deputy coordinator of the AIADMK, said their parties were ready to contest in the byelections.
Denying a suggestion that the DMK was not that keen on having the by-polls conducted ahead of the parliamentary polls, Mr Bharathi asked: “When the present political climate is conducive to us politically, should we not we make use of it ?” Even though the party had formed committees to prepare itself for Lok Sabha constituencies, the panels were now focusing on the 20 Assembly constituencies.
Referring to the Sunday incident of attempt to mishandle Handlooms Minister O. S. Manian in a village of Nagapattinam district, the DMK functionary said this reflected “how unpopular the present AIADMK government is.”
Rebutting the DMK’s contention, Mr Munusamy blamed the Opposition party behind the incident and said “just as they [DMK] are indulging in cheap politics, we are not going to do what they do. All our focus is on relief and restoration works in the cyclone-hit districts of the State.” At the same time, the AIADMK was gearing itself to face the by-polls, he added.
