After galvanising political parties to prepare for the polls, the byelection to Tiruvarur Assembly constituency now faces the likelihood of postponement. While leaders like DMK president M.K. Stalin have questioned the decision to hold the bypoll to Tiruvarur alone when 20 constituencies remain vacant, CPI national secretary D. Raja has written to the Election Commission seeking the deferment of the bypoll. His petition has prompted the EC to hold a consultative meeting with political parties to assess whether the situation is conducive for holding the bypoll on January 28. In an interview on Sunday, Mr. Raja said he was only questioning the timing of the byelection. Excerpts:
What prompted you to approach the Election Commission seeking the deferment of the bypoll to Tiruvarur?
Cyclone Gaja had wreaked havoc in the delta districts, including Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur and Pudukottai. I visited the affected areas, where life would never be the same again. If paddy crop is destroyed by a cyclone, it can be raised immediately and will be ready for harvest in six months. But in these districts, high-velocity winds had ravaged cash crops like coconut, cashew and mango. It will take many years [for these areas] to return to normalcy. The extent of the damage is explained by the fact that the State government had sought ₹15,000 crore from the Centre, but the latter announced just ₹1,416 crore as aid. The district administrations concerned are engaged in relief work, and if a byelection is held, it will divert their attention. Neither is the situation favourable nor the timing right for holding the bypoll.
Do you think there is a motive behind holding the byelection in Tiruvarur alone when 19 other constituencies remain vacant in the State?
I do not want to go into the political questions. People will keep these issues in mind and take a decision at the time of the election. Elections to local bodies have not been conducted on the ground that Tamil Nadu is facing a drought.
In Tiruvarur, the situation is not conducive for an election.
Even the DMK, whose stakes are high in Tiruvarur, has only made a case for allowing the distribution of relief materials, and has not sought the postponement of the bypoll…
The DMK is entitled to its views. It [Tiruvarur] is a constituency populated by agricultural labourers, farmers, the poor and middle-class people, and our party has worked among them for many years. Is anyone ready to say that the district has recovered from the impact of the cyclone and the situation has returned to normalcy?
When you met Chief Election Commissioner and made the representation for the postponement of the bypoll, what was his reaction?
He did not say anything negative. He promised that he would seek the opinion of the Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu. I suggested that the District Collector’s view should also be taken into consideration.