Governor seeks report on ULB polls

Parties say SEC, amid COVID concerns, blindly following govt. orders on the issue

Amid concerns over deteriorating COVID situation in the State and the State Election Commission’s (SEC) decision to go ahead with Urban Local Body elections, Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan called up the SEC and asked him to submit a report. Sources said the Governor called up the SEC C. Parthasarathy to ascertain the ground situation and asked him to submit a report on the areas bound for polls. The Governor’s call was apparently based on serious concerns raised by political parties on the elections and also media reports on the safety of people and poll staff. The State Election Commissioner explained the local arrangements planned for safe conduct of elections as per Election Commission’s guidelines and health department reports.