TN CEO Naresh Gupta appointed Returning Officer for RS polls

Chennai, May 26 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta has been appointed as the Returning Officer for the biennial elections to Rajya Sabha to fill up six seats from the State.

An official release here today said the Deputy Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly would be the Assistant Returning Officer.

The Election Commission's move to appoint Mr Gupta assumed significance in the wake of AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition J Jayalalithaa demanding the appointment of a neutral officer in place of Assembly Secretary M Selvaraj as there would be a close contest for the sixth seat.

However, a contest now appears unlikely with Chief Minister M Karunanidhi having made it clear that four of the six seats would be contested by the DMK-led DPA and the remaining two by the AIADMK.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has announced that the notification for the biennial elections would be issued on May 29 and June five would be the last date for filing of nominations.

Scrutiny of nominations would be taken up the next day. The last date for withdrawal of nominations was June eight and elections, if necessary, would be held on June 15. Counting of votes would be taken up the same day.

UNI