Begin urban poll work, SEC directs Collectors

Though the commission remained mute on the poll schedule for the suspended urban local body posts, the grapevine is that the poll officials have been intimated to be ready for the second phase of civic polls by April end, when the board exams are over.

TNSEC Commissioner R Palaniswamy, who conducted a review meeting through video conference, also instructed the collectors to get the draft photo electoral rolls revised and dispatch them to the local bodies where civic polls are due. The Commissioner urged the revenue authorities to verify the expenditure of candidates who contested in the first phase of civic polls held recently.

A press release from the TNSEC headquarters said that the new voters roll prepared by the Election Commission of India is to be released on February 14 and 27 district collectors are advised to dispatch the voters’ rolls to all the local bodies for verification and update. Those attached to the district election office should also investigate the pending election-related cases and ensure that the litigations are addressed at the earliest, the press release said.

It may be noted that on December 27 and 30, polls to rural local bodies were held in 27 districts, covering 76,746 wards of 9,624 village panchayats. However, more than 60 per cent of the civic posts are yet to be filled including the post of Chennai Mayor that remains vacant since October 2016.