Polling in Tamil Nadu's Aravakurichi Assembly constituency in the Karur district has been deferred by a week to May 23 by the Election Commission following the distribution of money and other gifts in the form of consumable items by candidates and political parties to voters as bribes in exchange for votes. The Assembly elections in the state are scheduled for May 16. Results in the Aravakurichi constituency will be declared on May 25, a week after the other 233 constituencies in the state get to know who won the elections.

Over Rs 6.75 crore of illegal cash has been seized in Aravakurichi, the EC said, adding that polling was deferred in the constituency "so that the vitiating effect of the money power created by the distribution of money and gift items to the electors of the constituency loses its intensity and a more congenial atmosphere conducive to the conduct of free and fair election is created".

The EC has also issued notices to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, asking the parties to explain their expenditure on freebies, reported The Hindu.