Tamil Nadu: Parties seek single-phase election; ECI to decide soon

Chennai: Political parties have suggested holding the Tamil Nadu assembly polls in a single phase and the Election Commission will make a decision on the matter shortly, CEC Gyanesh Kumar said Friday. “When we had detailed dialogue with all the national and state political parties, all of them suggested a single-phase election,” Kumar said while addressing the media. “Their suggestions have been noted by the commission.”

He expressed confidence that Tamil Nadu, with its politically aware electorate, would achieve one of the highest polling percentages in the upcoming assembly elections. “We are sure that the young eligible voters are going to come out in large numbers as they did in Bihar to vote for the candidates of their choice,” Kumar said.

Kumar called last year’s Bihar elections as one of the most “flawless elections” held in the recent decades and said he anticipated Tamil Nadu to do better. “I have been assured by all the collectors, SPs and the entire electoral machinery, including enforcement agencies, that Tamil Nadu is going to set records and will be much better than Bihar,” he said. Kumar said candidates could file nominations online via the Election Commission of India‘s portal. “Nominations filed online are visible to the entire electorate,” he said.
Forms may also be submitted physically to the returning officer.