Sending a clear message that no freebies of AIADMK Government be implemented in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts in view of March 18 Sankarankoil assembly by-election, Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar on Saturday said all efforts would be made to ensure a free and fair poll in the constituency.
With the model code of conduct coming into effect in these two districts under which the constituency falls, no new schemes should be announced till the polling process was completed, he told reporters here.
“There should be no announcement of new schemes, or inclusion of new beneficiaries,” he said adding the State governments’ schemes (free mixie, grinder, fan or laptops) should not be implemented in both the districts during this period.
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On the measures for the conduct of the by-poll, caused by the death of Minister C Karuppasamy last year, he said most of the process including filing of nominations would be videographed.
“Ten flying squads and static squads are in place to recover any illegal cash,” he said adding outsiders would be asked to leave the constituency ahead of polling.
Around 1,200 polling personnel will be on duty in the 2.05 lakh voter constituency. The number of polling booths had increased compared to the April 2011 polls, Mr. Kumar said.
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AIADMK and its arch rival DMK have already announced their candidates for the bypoll.
Vaiko-led MDMK, which had boycotted the assembly elections last year, has announced it will contest the bypoll while actor Vijaykanth-led DMDK is also likely to field its candidate, making it a four-cornered battle.