Chennai: Election Commission has cancelled
the January 20 by-election to the Pennagaram Assembly
constituency in Tamil Nadu following demands from opposition
parties that it be put off in view of Pongal festival.
"We will not hold the election (for the Pennagaram
constituency) right now," Chief Election Commissioner Navin
Chawla told reporters here at the airport.
The polls were necessitated due to the death of DMK MLA
Periannan.
The ruling DMK and its ally Congress had opposed the
postponement of elections on the ground that it would set a
wrong precedent.
Chawla said EC would not hold any talks with the state
government on the postponement of by-polls to Pennagaram. He
said the summary revision of polls in Pennagaram constituency
would be taken up on January 2 or 3.
Stating that nine of the 11 political parties in the
state had sought postponement of the by-election, Chawla said,
"EC would issue fresh notification very soon."
Opposition parties including AIADMK and PMK had sought
postponement as the dates fixed by the Election Commission
coincided with the Pongal festival.
Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta convened
a meeting of various political parties yesterday. Gupta had
later said "different views" were presented on the matter and
a report would be sent to the EC following which it would take
a decision.
PTI
