Chennai sources stated that barely a few days after the Election Commission of India announcing January 28 as the date for the by-election in the Tiruvarur Assembly constituency, the poll now seems pretty uncertain. Meanwhile in an unprecedented move that raised many questions not all of them kind the ECI has initiated a process to assess, afresh and rather belatedly, if the post Gaja conditions would allow the poll.
Furthermore the EC action follows the petition filed in the Supreme Court by CPI leader D, Raja against holding the by-poll in Tiruvarur because people there are yet to recover from the damage and destruction by Cyclone Gaja and besides, the government relief work was still going on.
Moreover with almost every political party and farmers’ body, barring the ruling AIADMK, expressing displeasure if not shock at the EC announcing the Tiruvarur by-election, and the strong sentiments expressed against holding the poll at the district EO meeting, the ECI is unlikely to go ahead with its January 28 date for the poll.
