Tamil Nadu CM seeks court nod to proceed with delayed assembly bypolls

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin approached the Madras High Court on Wednesday requesting the removal of an interim stay on conducting bypolls to five Tamil Nadu assembly constituencies, contending that the suspension infringes on the voting rights of lakhs of citizens.

The bypolls, which have been stalled pending court orders, are due in Tiruchi East, Perundurai, Ambasamudram, Viralimalai, and Karur constituencies. Stalin argued that the continued absence of elected representatives in these segments denies constituents of their fundamental democratic rights and delays development work in these areas.

The chief minister requested the high court to vacate the interim stay, asserting that holding the bypolls would restore proper democratic representation and allow for the resumption of constituency-level governance and welfare initiatives. The court has yet to pronounce its decision on the petition.

The electoral commission and state administration have expressed readiness to conduct the bypolls once the legal impediments are cleared. The constituencies have been without elected representatives for several months due to various vacancies triggered by previous electoral or administrative developments.