The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has come down heavily on the Election Commission for ordering a re-poll in two polling stations of the state. The party pointed out that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) had been kept in safe custody as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India after the polling completed in the state on April 24 and "it is most surprising that the ECI has, after a long gap of 12 days, suddenly ordered a re-poll in two polling stations of the state."
In a letter sent to the Chief Election Commissioner, AIADMK general secretary and chief minister J Jayalalithaa said, "We are informed that in Polling Station Number 213 of 15 Salem Parliamentary Constituency there was 77.61% of polling and in respect of Polling Station Number 37 of 16 Namakkal Parliamentary Constituency there was 80.26% polling."
"No protests or complaints were registered by any of the political parties or anyone else in respect of both these polling stations. When this is so, the belated and inexplicable move of the ECI to order a re-poll abruptly with less than 48 hours notice does not appear warranted. Such delayed actions raise unnecessary apprehensions about the fair conduct of the poll process," she added.
