Collector awaits Election Commission. bypoll notification

Chennai: With political pressure mounting on the status of the Srirangam assembly constituency that became vacant after Jayalalithaa’s conviction in the disproportionate assets case, Tiruchy district collector Jayashree Muralidharan made it clear on Thursday that the district administration would step into election mode, only after poll notification is made by the Election Commission.

So far the district administration has not obtained any notification from the EC, she told DC. The collector, who is currently reviewing the ongoing draft electoral rolls said that like any other district, Tiruchy is prepared to handle elections on any specific date prescribed by the EC.

The collector who is also the district election officer pointed out the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are always ready and draft roll enumeration was underway.

“Srirangam is like any other constituency and we will abide by the EC norms,” she said, when asked about the opposition DMK insisting on declaring the Srirangam seat as vacant.

Regarding the revision of voter rolls, she said that tahsildars and special officers have begun revision works and urged people who have completed 18 years of age to enroll for inclusion of their names into the electoral photo rolls.