Tamil Nadu State branch of the Communist Party of India (CPI) has filed a petition with the Election Commission seeking postponement of the Tiruvarur by-polls which are due to be held on 28th January.

The Election Commission announced a few days back that the by-polls to fill up the vacancy at Tiruvarur Assembly constituency (which the late DMK president M. Karunanidhi represented till his demise in August last year) would be held on the 28th of this month. Filing of nominations by candidates is to commence today (03rd January); counting of votes as per schedule would be taken up on 31st January.

The ruling AIADMK is determined to upset the DMK’s plans of retaining the seat held by the party patriarch from 2011. DMK sources said yesterday that party president M.K. Stalin might contest the by-polls to retain the family’s hold over Tiruvarur. DMK’s allies including the Congress, the CPI and the CPI-M had earlier asserted that they would be supporting the DMK candidate for the by-polls.

State CPI Secretary Mutharasan had earlier issued a statement asserting the party’s support to the DMK. However, the party has now petitioned the Election Commission stating that the by-polls ought to be postponed to a latter date as the relief/rehabilitation to ‘Cyclone Gaja’ victims has been going on in Tiruvarur and the neighbouring localities.

CPI’s national general secretary D. Raja submitted the petition yesterday. Citing the same reason, he has also moved the Supreme Court of India seeking postponement of the by-polls. In the meantime, by-poll work is going on full-swing in Tiruvarur.