Ottapidaram, Aravakurichi and Tiruparankundram Assembly constituencies remain vacant and the DMK alleged that the Election Commission purportedly held back the constituencies from going to polls, in a bid to favour the AIADMK. Three constituencies are not to go to by-elections in the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha polls, for which dates were announced on Sunday
Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief electoral officer (CEO) Satyabrata Sahoo said that the by-elections will not be held for Ottapidaram, Aravakurichi and Tiruparankundram Assembly constituencies in the state.
Of the 21 constituencies in Tamil Nadu, only 18 are going to by-polls. Voters in the state will decide the fate of the AIADMK lead by Edappadi K Palaniswami.
The three other constituencies of Ottapidaram, Aravakurichi and Tiruparankundram fell vacant after the demise of DMK supremo M Karunanidhi, AK Bose of the AIADMK, while former minister Balakrishna Reddy was convicted in a rioting case.
Election petitions are pending in court and hence the EC has stated that the elections will not be held in these constituencies.
Speaking to MyNation, DMK spokesperson A Saravanan alleged that the Election Commission (EC) was trying to help the AIADMK.
"If the 21 constituencies go to polls, then we may overtake the AIADMK. The 18 constituencies will either leave us on par with the AIADMK with 115 seats or less. Both of which will favour the AIADMK," said Saravanan.
The by-elections to the three seats will be held eventually when matters are settled in court or when the petitioners withdraw their case.
Saravanan also added that the next step forward was to only wait and approach the necessary people when time comes.
However, the CEO has also clarified that the 18 disqualified MLAs are eligible to contest for the Assembly by-elections.
The by-elections will be held on April 23 in Poonamallee, Perambur, Thiruporur, Sholingur, Gudiyatham (SC), Ambur, Hosur, Pappireddipatti, Harur (SC), Nilakottai (SC), Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, Manamadurai (SC), Andipatti, Periyakulam (SC), Sattur, Paramakudi (SC) and Vilathikulam.
The AIADMK has been reduced from 234 to 213 in the House. The AIADMK has 114 MLAs, excluding the Speaker, and has to win at least in about 10 seats to remain comfortably in power till the end of its term in 2021.
Also read: Tamil Nadu: DMDK joins hands with AIADMK, will contest four seats in Lok Sabha election
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