Stalin condemns SEC for delay in civic polls, asks Guv to intervene

Remarking that the State Election Commission should be addressed as state time seeking commission, Stalin, in a statement issued on Monday, said the ruling AIADMK and SEC have made a mockery of Panchayat Raj Act by repeatedly seeking time to defer the civic polls in Tamil Nadu. Accusing the SEC of finding excuses to defer the polls and AIADMK regime of seconding the same, Stalin said the state government and the commission are partnering to defer polls and defy the Constitution. An independent SEC has become stooge of the government and repeatedly seeks time with the SC based on the reasons given by the Chief Minister and Local Administration Minister to defer the local body elections, the DMK president who is also the Leader of Opposition alleged, adding that the AIADMK regime was citing flimsy reasons to defer polls fearing defeat.

Opining that the Chief Minister and SEC were obliging the Local Administration Minister even without realising that failure in conducting civic polls for 33 months was sufficient to demonstrate non-compliance of the Constitution, Stalin urged the Governor to seek necessary clarification and issue appropriate orders to the SEC to conduct the civic polls.

Stalin also chaired a meeting of the party district secretaries to discuss the ensuing Vellore Lok Sabha election.