Bypolls: DMK plea to be heard on March 28

The matter was mentioned for early hearing before a bench of Justices SA Bobde and Sanjiv Khanna. The counsel, appearing for DMK, told the bench that the matter has been listed for hearing on April 8. But the bypolls for other vacant 18 assembly seats were scheduled to be held on April 18, so it should be heard as early as possible. “List on March 28,” the bench said.

On March 15, the apex court had asked the Election Commission to respond to DMK’s plea. The DMK is seeking by-polls for Tiruparankundram, Ottapidaram and Aravakurichi assembly constituencies.

The DMK counsel earlier told the court that there are 21 vacant assembly seats in Tamil Nadu but the poll panel has notified bypolls for only 18 seats. The lawyer had said that bypolls in18 seats are scheduled to be held on April 18 along with the Lok Sabha polls in the State.

The ECI’s counsel had said that as per instructions, bypolls for three seats were not announced as some petitions regarding them were pending in the Madras High Court. DMK has also made a representation to the poll panel for holding bypolls to the three vacant seats. Tamil Nadu’s Chief Electoral Officer had earlier said that bypolls are not scheduled for the Tiruparankundram, Ottapidaram and Aravakurichi constituencies as election petitions are pending in the Madras High Court.

The Ottapidaram constituency is represented by disqualified AIADMK MLA Sundararaj, while Aravakurichi is represented by Senthil Balaji, an AIADMK legislator who is now with the DMK. Tiruparankundram legislator AK Bose died last year.