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NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 31:

        Determined in its pursuit to have repolls to all the 155 wards of the Chennai Corporation, main opposition, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) today filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking to quash the notification of the State Election Commission (SEC) for bypolls to 100 wards, pending disposal of civic poll violence case. The petition also seeks to restrain authorities from going ahead with poll preparations.

        A petition filed by former Minister and AIADMK MLA D Jayakumar today came up for admission before the Chief Justice AP Shah.

        It was said in the petition that at a time when a third judge is adjudicating on the violence during civic poll case, the act of SEC in notifying elections for 100 wards was bad in law.

        Pending disposal of the original petition on violence case, the authorities should be restrained from going ahead with poll preparations.

        N Jothi, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, requested the Chief Justice for an early hearing considering the urgency of the matter. The registry was asked to list the matter for tomorrow, it is learnt.

        Following a split verdict in the civic poll case, the matter was sent to a third judge PK Misra for final adjudication. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister and DMK president M Karunanidhi asked all the 99 councillors to put in their papers facilitating re-election. Barring a single independent all the 98 councillors resigned. Two belonging to the AIADMK had vacated their seats soon after polls in protest against violence.

        Just after the mass resignations, the SEC notified polls on 18 February and filing of nominations has already begun.

        In this context, the AIADMK has once again gone to the court. This time wanting the highest seat of justice in the State to put on hold the process of elections to the 100 wards vacated by the DMK and its allies.

        This move of the AIADMK has led to confusion and anxiety in the political circles. While cadres of the opposition are still hoping for their party highcommand to consider a reversal of stand as it would only 'help the AIADMK,' the workers of the DMK and allies like the Congress and the PMK are worried about the final verdict.