Political parties have urged the Election Commission of India to hold same-day Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry while also flagging concerns over unilateral appointment of nominated legislators by the Centre, bogus voters and distribution of freebies that could mar free and fair elections.
Representatives of the parties, who handed over memoranda to a high-level delegation from the Election Commission of India (ECI) led by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, made the case for synchronous elections as the States shared contiguous areas with the Union Territory.
Puducherry PCC president A. V. Subramanian, in a memorandum said the Congress would, if allowed to by the party high command, boycott the election to press for Statehood for Puducherry and urged the ECI to take this up with the Government of India.
Raising the issue of the barricading of areas around the Raj Nivas to provide protection to Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi, the memorandum said the measure,…