Will launch agitation if deferred polls not held on 23 May: Karunanidhi

Chennai: Miffed at the Election Commission deferring the polls to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur Assembly segments in Tamil Nadu, DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Friday alleged it was a “conspiracy” against his party and warned of launching an agitation if polling was not held as per schedule on 23 May. [caption id=“attachment_2792018” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Referring to BJP and PMK moving the court seeking postponement of polls, Karunanidhi asked how many seats the two had won in the other 232 seats, results for which were declared on Thursday. [/caption] Referring to BJP and PMK moving the court seeking postponement of polls, he asked how many seats the two had won in the other 232 seats, results for which were declared on Thursday. The two parties had drawn a blank. “This is a deliberate conspiracy being hatched against DMK. How many seats have BJP and PMK won? Should not the opinion of DMK, which is contesting there, be sought,” he told reporters here. He alleged that the EC’s decision to further defer the polls on the pleas of BJP and PMK “is a planned conspiracy.” “If elections are not held as per schedule (on 23 May), I myself will launch an agitation saying that this was a deliberate move,” he said. Karunanidhi charged that EC was working at the behest of AIADMK in this matter. The Election Commission had earlier made a submission in the Madras High Court that it has decided to further postpone elections to Aravakurichi and Thanjavur assembly seats by three more weeks. EC had originally postponed the elections from the scheduled 16 May to 23 May following allegations of bribing of voters. Challenging the decision to hold it on 23 May, BJP and PMK had moved the High Court, seeking further postponement of polling. Meanwhile, DMK petitioned the Election Commission to hold the polls as per the earlier postponed schedule of 23 May. Organisation Secretary RS Bharathi said the DMK was “shocked” to know about the Election Commission’s decision to further defer the poll. “There are allegations made in the press by some political parties against DMK as a reason for postponing the elections. When such allegations are made against the DMK, it is just and fair to put us on notice before postponing the elections,” Bharathi said. He said the Election Commission should “recall this decision to uphold democracy”.