Chennai, Dec 25 (BPNS)
The Tamil Nadu election commission is likely to announce the dates for the Urban local body elections after Pongal. Pongal is scheduled for January 14th and sources in the state election told BPNS that elections are most likely to be conducted in February.
The delimitation exercise is also taking place for the newly created and expanded urban local bodies.
According to Tamil Nadu election commission officials, elections would be conducted for 21 corporations, 138 municipalities, and 490 town panchayaths.
Sources in the election commission told BPNS that the elections are likely to take place in February and notification would be issued immediately after Pongal festival.
The state would soon be announcing the free gift hampers for Pongal which include 20 items comprising of rice, jaggery, and sugar cane to 2.15 crore PDS cardholders. Gift hampers will also be provided to Sri Lankan Tamils residing in rehabilitation centres. The gift hampers would cost the government, Rs 1088 crore.
With the DMK not announcing the cash gift during Pongal, there is resentment brewing at the grass root levels and it has to be seen how the response will be in the elections.
D. Jayakumar, a former minister in the previous government while speaking to BPNS said,” The state government has failed miserably in maintaining law and order in the state which is abysmally low. Resent has started brewing after the government failed on its poll promises and it will not be like rural local body polls when they won comfortably.”
The BJP will be contesting in alliance with the AIADMK and this would lead to an interesting contest in Western Tamil Nadu.
The former allies of the AIADMK, DMDK, and PMK are contesting the elections alone. Makkal Needhi Maiam( MNM) of Kamal Haasan and Naan Tamilar Katchi (NTK) is desperate for a win.
