The election commission has ordered for re-polling in a total of thirteen polling booths spread across five Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu on May 19. The state election commissioner had recommended re-polling in 10 polling stations while another 46 booths were recommended for re-polling based on the reports of general observers and returning officers. There were no complaints about irregularities by any political parties in certain booths for which re-polling have been announced. But, the booths in which severe irregularities were reported have not been recommended for re-polling. The opposition parties led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) have strongly condemned the decision of the election commission. 8 Booths to Go for Re-polling in Dharmapuri The Dharmapuri constituency will witness maximum number of booths going for re-polling in the state. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), a dominant force in northern part of Tamil Nadu was charged with preventing representatives of opposition parties from entering the polling booths. Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, former union minister of health and family welfare contested from this constituency on behalf of PMK as part of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) - Bharatiya Janatha Party (BJP) alliance. Also Read: Missing Names and ‘Cash for Vote’ Allegations: Highlights of Tamil Nadu Polling The District Collector paid multiple visits to certain booths which have traditionally seen dominance by the PMK cadres in the past elections. However, the Election Commission was helpless in curbing the mass intimidation of the PMK in the region. VCK Demands Re-polling in Chidambaram Constituency The Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) led by Thirumavalavan, who is also the candidate in Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency had written to the Election Commission about the widespread violence reportedly by PMK cadres in the constituency. The party had demanded a detailed enquiry on the violence reported in Ponparappi village in the constituency where houses of dalits were attacked and prevented from voting. The party’s press release questioned the Election Commissioner’s recommendation for re-polling in 46 booths without any complaints from political parties. The release also demanded the appointment of Special Election Commissioner for the counting of votes in the state. Re-polling in Theni Raises flak The EC’s order for re-polling in one booth in Theni Lok Sabha constituency has irked the opposition. The deputy chief minister O Panneer Selvam’s son is the candidate from the constituency. Earlier this week, 50 voting machines were shifted from various locations to Theni. All the opposition parties flayed this move after which the District Collector explained that the machines were shifted as per the instructions from the Election Commissioner. Also Read: DMK Seeks Apex Court Intervention on Disqualification of 3 AIADMK MLAs The state EC had been under severe attack for delaying the conduction of local body elections which is due since the last three years. The EC has been yielding to the demands of the state government to delay the elections. The EC has come under severe criticism like never before in the history of the institution. The decisions made by the commission in favour of the ruling BJP has raised doubts on the autonomy and the functioning of the institution itself. The BJP-led government during its tenure has been attacking all the constitutionally created institutions for cheap political gains, which has raised disturbing questions about the smooth conduct of the elections as well as its outcome.<doc-sep>By Express News Service CHENNAI: Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo on Wednesday said that the Election Commission has decided to conduct repoll in a total 13 booths on May 19. Earlier, repoll was announced only in ten booths and the date of repolling was not announced. Amidst the controversy over the shifting of EVMs and VVPATs to Theni and Erode, Sahoo on Wednesday told reporters that in addition to the ten booths, repoll will be conducted in three more booths. Two of these are in Theni and one in Erode. However, the details of exactly which are the booths in Theni and Erode constituencies where the repolling will be conducted, was not revealed. Counting of votes in all these 13 repolling booths will also be conducted on May 23, when the vote counting will be held across the country. Earlier, repoll was announced in eight booths in Dharmapuri segment, one in Tiruvallur and one in Cuddalore. Repoll was announced in the booths in Dharmapuri after alleged booth capturing by PMK supporters in the constituency where PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss is contesting. The CEO had earlier said that he had recommended repoll in a total of 46 booths in the State.<doc-sep>The decision came after errors during polling were reported in 46 booths across 13 districts. The Election Commission has ordered re-polling at 13 booths in five parliamentary constituencies in Tamil Nadu on May 19, it said in a statement. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, the commission declared the April 18 polls at eight stations in Dharmapuri, one in Tiruvallur, one in Cuddalore, one in Erode and two in Theni "void". These 13 polling stations are also a part of Assembly segments Poonamallee, Pappireddipatti, Panruti, Kangeyam, Andipatti and Periyakulam where by-elections will be held on May 19. The decision came after errors during polling were reported in 46 booths across 13 districts in the state. The EC has asked the CEO to inform political parties and candidates about the re-polling and give wide publicity in the areas.<doc-sep>New Delhi: The Election Commission has ordered re-polling at 13 booths in five parliamentary constituencies in Tamil Nadu on May 19, it said in a statement. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, the commission declared the April 18 polls at eight stations in Dharmapuri, one in Tiruvallur, one in Cuddalore, one in Erode and two in Theni "void". These 13 polling stations are also a part of Assembly segments Poonamallee, Pappireddipatti, Panruti, Kangeyam, Andipatti and Periyakulam where by-elections will be held on May 19. The decision came after errors during polling were reported in 46 booths across 13 districts in the state. The EC has asked the CEO to inform political parties and candidates about the re-polling and give wide publicity in the areas.​<doc-sep>
EC announces re-poll in 13 polling booths in Tamil Nadu TN Chief Election Officer says that issues were found in 46 booths across the state. news Lok Sabha 2019 Nearly three weeks after Lok Sabha elections were held in Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission of India announced repolling in 13 polling stations. Tamil Nadu's Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo also informed that there were issues with 46 polling booths in the state, and hinted at the possibility of re-polling in all 46 booths in 13 districts owing to errors. Repolling in the 13 booths will be held on May 19, the same day as the last phase of the general elections and will be held in eight polling stations in Dharmapuri, two in Theni and one each in Cuddalore, Tiruvallur and Erode. Although the EC did not specify which polling stations these are, it is likely that this 13 includes the 10 polling booths recommended for re-polling by the TN CEO in April. The CEO reportedly attributed the errors in the 13 polls for which repolling has been ordered to the mock polls held before voting. Booth officials reportedly forgot to format the machines before the actual polling began, which meant that mock votes are also likely to have been counted. The State Election Commission has submitted its report on the same to the Central Election Commission in New Delhi. The errors in 46 booths are in addition to the 10 booths from the state that have already been recommended by the CEO for re-polling. The ten booths include eight in Dharmapuri Parliamentary/Pappireddipatti Assembly constituency and one each from Cuddalore Parliamentary/Panrutti Assembly and Tiruvallur Parliamentary/Poonamallee Assembly constituencies. On Tuesday, EVMs were shifted by the state EC from Coimbatore district to Theni. This sparked an uproar from the opposition. The CEO explained that this was as per the assessment of requirements in case of re-poll. 50 ballot units had been shifted from Coimbatore to Theni and 20 unused VVPATs from Coimbatore to Erode. On Wednesday, the DMK petitioned the EC regarding the transfer of EVMs. Speaking to the media, the party's Organising Secretary said, "All our doubt is that in that constituency the Deputy Chief Minister's son is contesting as the AIADMK candidate (for Lok Sabha). Therefore we suspect that the bringing of 50 EVMs maybe to change them. The reason is that Deputy CM Panneerselvam had gone to Varanasi where PM Modi filed his nomination and media reports that the two of them spoke privately. Even ordinary common people may suspect that the talk was about changing EVMs." Meanwhile, the EC also announced repolling in one polling station in Puducherry parliamentary constituency. The EC said that polling station number 10 in Kamaraj Nagar Assembly segment, which falls under Puducherry parliamentary constituency will go for polls again on May 12, since the EC declared the poll taken from the station on April 18 to be void.