Chennai: After representatives of prominent political parties stressed on the need to postpone by-poll in Tiruvarur Assembly constituency scheduled for 28 January, the Election Commission is expected to announce its final decision later today. The EC has empowered State Chief Election Officer Satyabrata Sahoo to take a final call.

Tiruvarur Collector and District Election Officer (DEO) L Nirmal Raj convened an all-party meet Saturday. Members of farmers association and general public attended the meeting. Expressing their views, the participants at the meeting said holding elections on 28 January would affect Cyclone relief works in the constituency. Also people have lost their identity cards and they are not in a mood to cast their votes. There will be a number of restrictions.

As a result, people in Thiruvarur constituency will not be able to get the benefit of the ongoing relief work and celebrate Pongal festival in a free manner, they said.

Nirmal Raj prepared a report and sent it to Satyabrata Sahoo on Saturday. After studying the report, State Chief Election Officer is expected to announce his decision in a day or two. Supreme Court will hear a petition filed by Communist leader D Raja seeking to postpone by-election to Tiruvarur tomorrow.

The by-poll was necessitated following the demise of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on 7 August last year. The Election Commission last week announced by-poll for Tiruvarur Assembly constituency on 28 January. The counting of votes is scheduled for 31 January.
AMMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran fielded party’s Thiruvarur district secretary S Kamaraj as the candidate. He urged the party cadre to prove that Thiruvarur was the fort of Amma (late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa).

Taking an indirect jibe at the ruling AIADMK and DMK, Dhinakaran said, “Just after the notification of the by-election, AMMK cadre are rushing to Thiruvarur for engaging themselves in the election campaign. But on the other side, people have rushed to the court.”
The DMK has named Poondi Kalaivanan, the Tiruvarur District secretary of the party, as their candidate.

Meanwhile, Naam Thamizhar Katchi led by Seeman announced Tamil Muzhakkam Sahul Hameed as its candidate. Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan has said he would make an announcement in two days whether his party Makkal Needhi Maiam would be contesting in the by-poll.