Salem, Namakkal re-poll on Saturday

Chennai: The Election Commission has deferred to May 10 the re-polling it had ordered in two polling stations of Salem North Assembly segment and another booth in Tiruchengode in Namakkal, even as its decision on ordering re-poll came for sharp criticism from AIADMK supremo and chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Wednesday.

In a release here on Wednesday evening, CEO Praveen Kumar said following representations from candidates seeking at least 48 hours’ notice before re-poll is held, the commission, accepting the request, decided to defer the re-poll to May 10 from May 8. Taking strong exception to the EC’s “belated” decision on ordering the re-poll, Ms Jayalalithaa said the decision was contrary to “the canons of propriety of the election process.”

Polling for 39 parliamentary constituencies in the general elections in Tamil Nadu was completed on April 24 and all the EVMs were kept in safe custody as per the guidelines of the ECI. “When this is so, it is most surprising that the ECI has, after a long gap of 12 days, suddenly ordered a re-poll in two polling stations of the state,” Ms Jayalalithaa said.

In a letter to chief election commissioner V.S. Sampath, the chief minister said, “The belated and inexplicable move of the ECI to order a re-poll abruptly with less than 48 hours notice does not appear warranted. Such delayed actions raise unnecessary apprehensions about the fair conduct of the poll process. Hence it would have been appropriate if such an action had been avoided,” she said.