Four months after the assembly polls, Tamil Nadu is all set to come back to another election race- this time, to the local bodies in nine districts. After episodes of postponements in light of the political divide, the Covid-19 pandemic and the demarcation measure, the local bodies in the nine districts - Kancheepuram, Chengalpet, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli, and Tenkasi districts are preparing to host the polls to elect their representatives next month. 

On Monday, Tamil Nadu State Election Commissioner V Palanikumar announced that the local body polls in the nine newly created districts will be held in two phases on October 6 and 9. While polling will take place n 39 unions on October 6, the remaining 35 unions will cast their vote on October 9 and the counting will be held on October 12. Though DMK holds the edge to sweep the local bodies under the tag of the ruling party, the ADMK is also been preparing to unfold a sturdy competition against its rival through the talking points of DMK's failure in fulfilling the poll promises given during the assembly polls.

While speaking to the reporters, Palanikumar has said that the election code of conduct has come into immediate effect in these districts and the filing of nomination would begin on September 15 and will run until September 22. The scrutiny of the nomination will be held on September 23 and September 25 will be the last date to withdraw the nomination and the final list of candidates will be announced on the same day. 

The election commissioner further said that the election will be held for 27,003 postings, including 2,901 village panchayat presidents' posts and 22,581 village panchayat ward councillors. A total of 76,59,720 voters are eligible to cast their vote in the two-phased polls. The polling will start at 7 am and end at 6 pm. The people who had tested positive for the Covid-19 pandemic and the people with the symptoms will be allowed to vote from 5 pm to 6 pm on the voting day.

Palanikumar has said that around 1.10 lakh government employees would be deployed for the poll duty and the Election Commission would depute an IAS officer as an election observer for each district. The state election commissioner has asserted that the electoral body has taken all precautionary measures to conduct the polls and voting in a free and fair manner. The arrangements have been made after holding a meeting with representatives of political parties. 

The commission has said that the election code of conduct will remain in place till October 16 and the elected representatives can sit for the first meeting on October 20. The state electoral body has appealed to the state health department to expedite the Covid-19 vaccination drive in the nine districts as the possibility of public gathering will be rampant during elections.