Hold polls before June 1: Tamil Nadu Governor to Election Commission

Chennai: State Governor Dr K Rosaiah on Thursday has recommended to the Election Commission to hold the elections in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur constituencies “as early as possible, preferably before June 1” (Wednesday) “in public interest and in the interest of all the concerned parties”.

The Governor’s action followed petitions presented to him by the AIADMK candidates for Aravakurichi and Thanjavur, Mr V Senthil Balaji and M Rengasamy respectively, challenging on May 22 challenging the decision of the Election Commission of India to defer the polls in the two constituencies on the grounds that the EC action was “without any authority of law and without the consent of His Excellency the Governor”.

“They also contended that the alleged corrupt practices relief upon by the Election Commission to defer the elections can be tested before a court of law and that the deferring of the polls will also shorten the tenure of the member who may be elected”, said a Raj Bhavan release here late night. It said after considering the petitions and the detailed report of the EC in the light of the relevant provisions in the Representation of People Act and the Constitution, as well as the various relevant court observations, the Governor had now sent a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner recommending the conduct of the elections in the two constituencies before Wednesday “in public interest and in the interest of all the concerned parties”.