A vacancy occurred in the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu w.e.f 20.5.2006 due to death of Shri T.Palanivelrajan who was elected from 143-Madurai Central Assembly Constituency of the State. This vacancy could not be filled up earlier as the election machinery in the district took up the work of preparation of photo electoral rolls which is now been completed.
2. It has been the consistent policy of the Election Commission that bye-election shall be held at the earliest possible opportunity in order to ensure that no segment of the Indian people are left unrepresented for unnecessary length of time.
3. The Commission, however, takes into account various factors such as weather conditions, festivals and other important events before preparation of schedule for any election. Taking into account that Tamil Nadu which is likely to be hit by North East Monsoon by the end of October and that the local body elections are likely to be held in the State in the middle of the same month, the Commission has decided to fill up the above mentioned vacancy in accordance with the following programme:-
1. Issue of Notifications 16-09-06 (Saturday)
2. Last date of making nominations: 23-09-06 (Saturday)
3. Scrutiny of nominations: 25-09-06 (Monday)
4. Last date for withdrawal of candidatures: 27-09-06 (Wednesday)
5. Date of poll: 11-10-06 (Wednesday)
6. Counting of Votes: 14-10-06 (Saturday)
7. Date before which the election shall 16-10-06 (Monday)
be completed
ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (EVMs)
4. The Commission has decided to use EVMs in this bye-election in all the polling stations.
IDENTIFICATION OF VOTERS
5. In consonance with the past practice, the Commission has decided that the voter’s identification shall be mandatory in the aforementioned bye-election at the time of poll. In order to ensure that no voter is deprived of his/her franchise, if his/her name figures in the Electoral Roll, separate instructions will be issued to allow additional documents, apart from the Electors’ Photo Identity Cards, for identification of voters at the time of poll in this bye-election.
MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT
6. The Model Code of Conduct shall come into force with immediate effect, i.e. 13th September, 2006 in the districts in which the whole or any part of Assembly Constituency going for bye-election is included. The Model Code of Conduct shall be applicable to all candidates, political parties and the State Government. The Model Code of Conduct shall also be applicable to the Union Government as far as these districts are concerned.
Election Commission of India
New Delhi, Bhadrapada 22, 1928
September 13, 2006
RM/AMA – 130906 Press Note