Chennai: Joining the chorus on the demand for
revising the poll schedule for the Tamil Nadu Assembly, MDMK
leader Vaiko on Thursday asked the Election Commission to revise it,
saying the exam season and the traditional Tamil New Year day
came right during the peak of the campaign.
In a letter to the EC, Vaiko said exams for classes X and
XII as well as university exams were scheduled between March 2
and April 11 and the electioneering could affect the students.
"The election campaign includes canvassing at the door
steps of the voters and addressing public meetings using sound
amplifier. This would cause disturbance to students preparing
for the exams," he said.
He said the first day of Tamil month "Chithirai", the
14th of April, was traditionally being celebrated as Tamil New
year Day.
Further, April 14, 16 and 17 were state government
holidays on account of birthday of BR Ambedkar, Mahaveer
Jayanthi and a Sunday, respectively, he pointed out saying
that many persons may take leave on April 15 to visit places
of their choice.
"The electorate who wish to make these trips would leave
their residences on April 12. Therefore considerable
percentage of electorate would not be able to remain at their
residence to exercise their franchise," he said.
He suggested that notification for the April 13 polls be
postponed and polling date be fixed for the first week of May
both in Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
Almost all parties except the AIADMK and MDMK have
expressed their reservation over the April 13 polling date,
with DMK president M Karunanidhi even terming it a `hasty`
decision.
PTI
