EC to review poll preparations in TN, Puducherry next week

The full Election Commission would review the preparedness for the May 16 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring union territory of Puducherry during their three-day tour next week, a senior official said today. The commission officials led by Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi would hold the review in Tamil Nadu on April 7 and 8 here.

“Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi, two Election Commissioners and other officials will hold meetings with political parties on April 7 and Collectors the next day,” Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni told reporters here.

The CEC and his team would visit Puducherry on April 6, he said adding the commission would review the arrangements being made for the conduct of the polls in the state and the UT.

Single phase polling is scheduled in Tamil Nadu on May 16, where a multi-cornered contest involving AIADMK, DMK-Congress, PWF-DMDK and BJP is in the offing. Earlier, Lakhoni released an awareness song sung by rapper Blazee on the need for voting.To a question, Lakhoni said that the electoral authorities had seized about Rs 17.31 crore cash in the state since the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect on March 4.

However, about Rs 15 crore had been returned “and the intention is to see what cash is being carried for election purpose,” he said.