Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora. (File)
Tamil Nadu Telangana Assembly Elections Live Updates: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora Thursday said the polling time for the upcoming assembly election in Tamil Nadu would be extended by an hour to adhere to the social distancing guidelines issued by the centre in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Addressing the reporters in Chennai to brief upon the Election Commission’s (EC) preparedness for the general election, Arora said apart from the normal election observers, they have decided to send two special expenditure observers. This initiative is taken by the EC to prevent the rampant money distribution which the state had witnessed in the past elections.
“Due to Covid-19, the polling stations in the state have been increased. With the additional 25,000, there will be a total of 93,000 polling stations in the state for the upcoming assembly elections,” Arora said.
The Tamil Nadu assembly tenure is due to expire on May 24, 2021. The elections are due for 234 constituencies — General – 188, SC – 44, and ST – 02.
The EC added that the bypoll for the Kanyakumari parliamentary constituency would be held along with 2021 assembly polls. The seat fell vacant following the demise of Congress MP H Vasanthakumar.
In a shot in the arm for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, late screen legend and Rajya Sabha MP Sivaji Ganesan’s son Ramkumar and former Chennai mayor Karate R Thiagarajan joined the saffron party on Thursday.
They were ushered into the saffron fold in the presence of top state BJP leader L Murugan and party national secretary CT Ravi.
READ | Sivaji Ganesan’s son, former Chennai Mayor join BJP ahead of TN polls, Congress hits out
The general body meeting of actor Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) commenced on Thursday to decide on the party’s prospective alliance partners and other party developments. The meeting, presided over by party president Kamal Haasan, is taking place at a marriage hall in the outskirts of the city.
On several occasions, Kamal Haasan has said he will form an alliance with honest people. He has also categorically ruled out an alliance with Dravidian parties, alleging they are “corrupt”.
READ | Kamal Haasan’s party meets to decide on prospective alliance partners
For assistance on COVID-19-related queries and mental health support in Chennai, citizens can contact the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) COVID-19 helpline 044 46122300 | Citizens can find the nearest GCC-facilitated COVID-19 fever clinic here | For lodging rain-related complaints and assistance during the monsoon, citizens can contact the GCC’s monsoon helplines 044 25384530 or 044 25384540 or the control room 1913 (available 24×7)
Chennai Hyderabad February 9, 10 Highlights
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/tamil-nadu-telangana-coronavirus-lockdown-6-0-covaxin-covishield-chennai-hyderabad-tamil-nadu-elections-2021-campaigns-aiadmk-dmk-sasikala-live-7182161/
