EC meets TN parties ahead of polls, majority push for single-phase voting

Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections due in April, most political parties have requested the Election Commission (EC) to conduct the polls in a single phase, officials said on Thursday.

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar , along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi , held consultations with both national and state-level parties in Chennai to discuss poll preparations. Archana Patnaik , the state Chief Electoral Officer, and senior EC officials were also present.

Representatives of parties including Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Congress , and National People's Party participated, along with state parties such as AIADMK, DMK, DMDK, Naam Tamizhar Katchi , and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi .

During the consultations, parties emphasised the need for stringent measures to curb the use of money power and distribution of freebies, and some called for an increase in flying squads to prevent electoral malpractices. They also requested that festival dates be considered while finalising the election schedule.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar assured the parties that elections in Tamil Nadu would be conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner, and that the Commission would firmly clamp down on inducement-related activities.

Following the party interactions, EC officials reviewed all aspects of election preparedness, including law and order, EVM management, logistics, training of election staff, voter awareness, and outreach activities with heads of enforcement agencies, including IGs, DIGs, DEOs, and SPs.

Officials also noted that political parties appreciated the peaceful conduct of the recent Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in the state, reflecting a positive step towards smooth elections.