Edappadi K Palaniswami Demands TN EC To Hold Rural Local Body Polls In Single Phase

Tamil Nadu Election Commission has announced rural local body elections for nine newly-formed districts in the state on October 6 and 9.

Chennai: The Opposition Leader of Tamil Nadu and co-coordinator of AIADMK Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday wrote to Tamil Nadu State Election Commissioner V Palanikumar urging him to conduct the rural local body elections for nine newly-formed districts in the state--scheduled on October 6 and 9--in a single phase.

Citing that even the state Assembly elections to 234 constituencies were held in a single phase, he said, two phases of polls would provide space for anti-national elements and create law and order problems.

Further, the former Chief Minister said, “The fact that the local bodies elections are to be held in such short notice in itself puts the opposition party and other parties who are not in power at a position of disadvantage and the conduct of elections at two phases would only further create law and order problems in the said districts.”

He also requested the polling officials to ensure the practice of COVID-19 etiquette at polling booths and to install CCTV cameras. He also said, CRPF personnel should be employed to ensure that government servants do not act in favour of the ruling party.

“Such prolonged phases of election would only provide opportunity to anti-social elements to permeate and create an atmosphere where the voters would be threatened/intimidated to vote for political parties/not cast their vote, thereby defeating the purpose of holding such elections,” he said.

Hence, he requested the state EC to hold a single phase election in order to ensure that the electorate could cast their votes at one go and not be subjected to such anti-social elements.