Chennai: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has cancelled the upcoming Tiruvarur bypoll, which was reported to be held on January 28. This move came after political parties expressed reservations about continuing with the exercise given the ongoing relief measures following Cyclone Gaja.

This bypoll cancellation order signed by chief election commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora and fellow commissioner Ashok Lavasa said a fresh date would be announced in due course of time.

"By-election for Tiruvarur cancelled as per orders of the ECI," Tamil Nadu chief electoral officer N Satyabrata Sahoo explained in a statement in Chennai.

After the demise of DMK patriarch, M Karunanidhi, on August 7, 2018, Tiruvarur constituency fell vacant resenting the seat.

Tiruvarur is one of the flood-hit districts in the delta region of Tamil Nadu due to severe cyclonic storm Gaja in November, 2018.

In a meeting with the collector, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) mooted for the poll's postponement, as the DMK (though they had announced Poondi Kalaivanan as the candidate for the seat) said the bypoll should be held after the cyclone relief work is completed.

DMK chief MK Stalin said, "People know the motive" behind announcing bypoll only in Tiruvarur, though 19 other seats were vacant as well, adding that his party was "not afraid" of the bypoll.

Eighteen seats are also vacant after AIADMK legislators were disqualified for siding with party's ousted leader TTV Dhinakaran. Tiruparankundram seat too fell vacant after the ruling party's AK Bose died last year.