Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Election Commission on Monday announced rural local body polls for newly carved out nine districts of the state in two phases on October 6 and October 9. The people of the nine districts of Chengalpattu, Kallakurichi, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Tirupattur, Villupuram and Vellore will cast their votes on the two days.
In a press meet, state Election Commissioner Palanikumar said, the votes will be counted on October 12. Overall, a total of 76,59,720 voters including 37,77,524 men, 38,81,361 women and 835 transgender people are eligible to cast their votes.
The polling will take place between 7 am and 6 pm. The last hour from 5 pm to 6 pm will be reserved for COVID-19 patients to cast their votes. The candidates can start filing their nominations from September 15 and the last date for filing nominations will be September 20, he said.
The State Election Commissioner said, the model code of conduct has come into force and will be implemented in the districts till the date of counting.
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The state EC told the Health Department to procure and provide COVID-19 essentials including masks and gloves for conducting elections. The state EC also demanded the health department to increase the COVID-19 vaccination in the nine districts notified for the elections.
The notification for the election comes after the Supreme Court directed Tamil Nadu State Election Commission to conduct local body polls in the nine new districts by September 15. However, the state EC sought more time to conduct polls since the deadlines were fast approaching. They have moved to SC demanding 35 more days to conduct the rural local body elections.