The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday informed the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the April 18 polling date could not be changed, and said it would conduct the elections in the State as scheduled, though the date coincided with the Chithirai festival.
Consequently, a Division Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and S.S. Sundar, hearing a public interest litigation petition seeking a change in polling date, directed the EC to file a detailed affidavit on Friday explaining how the polling would be managed on April 18.
Earlier, the EC informed the court that if polls were to be postponed in Madurai, it would cause a ripple effect. Further, the EC told the court that voting hours could be extended.
The court asked, “You can conduct the polls, but will there be good turnout?” The EC counsel said a detailed reply would be filed on Friday.