Chennai: The Election Commission of India has indicated it could announce by January the by-election schedule for Srirangam Assembly constituency, lying vacant following the disqualification of sitting member and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa after her conviction in an assets case.
Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath yesterday said there was time upto March 2015 (to hold the bypoll) and the schedule could be announced after completion of the ongoing summary revision of electoral roll in the state.
"By the first week of January, final publication will be done. After that, election schedule will be announced," he told reporters here at the airport replying to a question on the bypoll.
The Srirangam Assembly segment fell vacant following the disqualification of Jayalalithaa in view of her conviction and four years imprisonment awarded by a Bengaluru special court in the 18-year old Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case against her on September 27.
She has appealed against her conviction in the Karnataka High Court.
The vacancy with effect from September 27 was notified in a Tamil Nadu gazette notification on November 8, which also stated that she is disqualified from contesting elections for ten years.
Opposition parties in the state had criticised the government for "delay" in notifying the vacancy.
