Tiruvarur by-poll: All-party meet called; Stalin, TTV, AIADMK exchange barbs

Hours after Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Satyabrata Sahoo asked a detailed report from him on the conduct of Tiruvarur by-election, Collector and District Election Officer (DEO) L Nirmal Raj has called for an all-party meet to get the views of various political outfits. Meanwhile, various political leaders today aired their opinion on the by-election. DMK president M K Stalin said, "The electoral officer must take into account the views from all parties and fronts.

The officer's report must comprise everybody's point. The officer needs to speak with political parties and Thiruvarur District farmers association members before filing his report."
AMMK deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran said, "DMK is afraid to contest in the elections much like ruling party AIADMK. The opposition parties are afraid that AMMK will win and hence are asking for cancellation of the by-polls."

Former Minister and AIADMK spokesperson Vaigaiselvan said the DMK is fearful of the elections. "They are afraid and nervous upon the announcement of by-polls," he added. On Friday, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam named Poondi Kalaivanan, the Thiruvarur district secretary of the party, as its candidate for the Tiruvarur by-poll. While Dhinakaran announced S Kamaraj as the AMMK's candidate. Kamaraj, the district secretary of AMMK in Tiruvarur, contested in 2016 Assembly Elections for AIADMK from Mannargudi and was defeated by DMK's TRB Raja.