Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Election Commission of India has told the Madras High Court that it will not notify bye-elections to five vacant Tamil Nadu Assembly seats until petitions challenging their results are decided.
The seats are Tiruchi East, Perundurai, Ambasamudram, Viralimalai and Karur. Tiruchi East was represented by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, while the other four were held by the AIADMK.
Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik made the submission in response to a petition filed by Tirunelveli resident K Venkatachalapathy.
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The High Court extended its interim order restraining the Election Commission from notifying the bypolls until September 8. It also declined the TVK government’s request to vacate the stay.
WHY THE BYPOLLS ARE ON HOLD
Venkatachalapathy has argued that the seats cannot be treated as “clear vacancies” under Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, while election petitions concerning them remain pending.
Vijay and four AIADMK candidates were elected from the five constituencies in May 2026 but later resigned. The four former AIADMK MLAs subsequently joined Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Chief Minister Vijay contested and won from two Assembly constituencies, Perambur and Tiruchi East. He retained Perambur and resigned from Tiruchi East.
S Jeyakumar, Esakki Subaya, C Vijayabaskar and MR Vijayabhaskar were elected from Perundurai, Ambasamudram, Viralimalai and Karur, respectively.
Chief Minister Vijay’s side opposed the ECI’s decision to wait until the election petitions were resolved. The state government sought an early hearing and asked the court to lift the interim restriction.
The bench declined the request and continued the stay until September 8, when it will take up the petition for final hearing.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
