Muslims in Aravakurichi urge EC not to hold polls on June 13

The minority community of Pallipatti panchayat in Arvakurichi Assembly constituency, where polling has been deferred to June 13 along with Thanjavur, has urged the Election Commission not to hold the polls on the date during Ramzan.

"If the election is held between June 6-July 6 (Ramzan month), Muslims will not be able to stand in queue and exercise their franchise," secretary of the Jamath of Pallipatti panchayat, Mohamed Ali told reporters. He said there were about 26,000 members of the community in Pallipatti, besides 8,000 in seven nearby villages.

Political parties in the fray have also deployed community members as booth agents and they would not be able to perform their duties, he said. Ali said local Ulemas were also against holding the poll on that date and added that they had sent a representation to the Chief Electoral Officer and election officer to consider their request.

The polling for Aravakurichi and Thanjavur, earlier scheduled to be held on May 16 with other constituencies in the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, was deferred to May 23 due to charges of rampant bribing of voters by candidates and political parties. Later the polling date was postponed to June 13.

Yesterday, Madras High Court had directed EC to take a decision on the polling date for the two assembly segments by May 27.