Accordingly a day after announcing the poll date for Tamilnadu’s tryst with the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission has sought details on whether April 18 coincides with religious festivals in the Madurai district. Meanwhile soon after the EC announced that Tamilnadu would go to polls on April 18, many in the state were quick to point out that the dates coincided with the annual Chithirai festival in Madurai and it is celebrated over two weeks in and around the Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai, attracting a large number of devotees from across the state and country.
When speaking to media persons in Madurai, District Collector Natarajan confirmed that the administration had been asked details regarding the holidays in the district. He said “We have been asked for holiday dates in the district. We have informed that April 19, 2019 is holiday on the day of Chithirai Thiruvizha and that's what the Election Commission asked us and that's what we have replied”.
Moreover the Collector also indicated that areas affected by the festival could witness an extension in polling time on the day of voting to enable voters to cast their ballot. Furthermore politicians from the state have expressed concern that voter turnout maybe low on account of the date clash with a petitioner seeking to change the date of polling on account of the festival.
