After red alert, now ruling camp may cite Gaja to defer bypolls

“The state should reiterate to the Election Commission that holding bypolls to 20 vacant Assembly seats will be practically difficult as the state authorities are focussed on relief works in six districts hit by Cyclone Gaja and this had been conveyed to party seniors,” a former AIADMK MLA and who is appointed as an in-charge for bypolls admitted.

The Election Commission already admitted that the bypolls to the Tiruvarur and Tiruparankundram were delayed due to the red alert issued by the Indian Meteorological Department and now a cyclone has struck and there are genuine reasons for the state to make it on record that it is tough to conduct the polls in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK functionary said.

It may be noted that the outgoing Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat has told a press conference in Delhi that the bypolls to Tamil Nadu were not announced as there was an official communiqué from TN Chief Secretary stating that the state is not ready for bypolls due to northeast monsoon and a pending litigation. Again, on Tuesday, Rawat told media that the EC will ask the state about its preparedness and then take a final call after evaluating the parameters and logistics.

According to informed Secretariat sources, a similar communication by Chief Secretary which earlier conveyed about the red alert and the monsoon as a reason to delay the polls will serve the purpose. Further this time close to 3 lakh people were evacuated due to Cyclone Gaja and are still housed in 500 relief camps. The damage is also spread over six districts and conduct of elections will certainly be difficult within the next two months, sources said.

“We know that the AIADMK government is not ready to face the bypolls fearing a rout and the act of Election Commission is biased towards the Centre,” said disqualified MLA and AMMK strongman P Vettrivel. Red alert was issued and then withdrawn by the IMD, but the Commission chose not to conduct the polls. Further, even if the EC announces the poll schedule the election can be held only after a window period of 40 days, so what stops the EC to announce the poll schedule is a question pending before the Election Commissioner, Vettrivel added. It may be noted that Cyclone Gaja made a landfall in Vedaranyam of Nagapattinam district on November 16.