EC defers Tiruvarur Assembly bypoll, TN parties welcome it

Chennai, Jan 7 (UNI) The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday rescinded the January 28 bye-election to Tiruvarur Assembly constituency, a move welcomed by various political parties in Tamil Nadu. In a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo, the ECI said the the notification calling upon the Tiruvarur assembly constituency to elect a member of legislative assembly shall stand rescinded forthwith. The ECI had on December 28,2018 announced holding of bypoll to Tiruvarur to fill the vacancy caused by the death of five-time Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi on August seven last year.

‘Consequently all actions and steps taken by the Returning Officer District Election Officer and all other electoral authorities concerned are hereby declared as null and void’, it said.

It said a copy of the notification would be published in the Extraordinary Official Gazette of Tamil Nadu. The rescinding of the bypoll was on expected lines as several political parties questioning its timing at a time relief works were going on in full swing in the Cyclone ‘Gaja’ affected district.