Tamil Nadu bypoll to be held March 27
By IANSFriday, February 19, 2010
CHENNAI - The Election Commission (EC) Friday announced that the bypoll for the Pennagaram assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu will be held March 27.
The notification will be issued March 3. The last date for filing of nominations is March 10.
While the scrutiny of the nominations will be done March 11, the last day for withdrawal of candidature is March 13 and counting of votes will be held March 30.
The holding of the bypoll has generated a lot of political heat, even at the national level, with major political parties charging the EC of a biased attitude.
Originally scheduled for Jan 20, the bypoll was postponed to February following representations from the opposition AIADMK, MDMK, PMK, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).
The parties contended that the Pongal and Tamil New Year festivals fall during the campaign period and the assembly session would start Jan 6.
They also said the poll date had been announced in haste within 21 days of the sitting legislator’s death.
The postponement necessitated revision of electoral rolls, with Jan 1 as the qualifying date and the completion of 100 percent field verification.
