Chennai, March 4 (NationPress) As the Tamil Nadu government anticipates the imminent announcement of Assembly election dates, it has mandated all departments to finalize outstanding files in the state Secretariat by March 6.

This directive arrives amidst strong expectations that the Election Commission of India (ECI) will soon reveal the election timetable.

According to senior officials, departments have been instructed to expedite the handling of administrative files, especially those related to tenders, project endorsements, and other significant policy decisions.

Key departments are diligently working to ensure that all files currently in circulation are resolved by the deadline. A senior official from the Secretariat remarked, “We have received clear orders to clear all outstanding files by March 6. Many departments are operating under high pressure to complete this task.”

Departments such as Public Works, Highways, and Social Welfare, which manage a substantial number of administrative approvals, are prioritizing the resolution of pending issues. The urgency is attributed to the expected implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which will take effect once the Election Commission announces the election schedule.

The MCC imposes strict limitations on governments, preventing them from launching new initiatives, issuing new tenders, or endorsing significant policy decisions that could sway voters.

Election officials report that preparations are well underway as the ECI begins its final consultations with state authorities. An ECI representative noted that review meetings will occur with officials in Kerala on March 5 and 6 as part of their evaluation of election readiness in states preparing for elections.

“Following the completion of consultations and readiness assessments in the relevant states, the Commission is poised to announce the election schedule for Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Assam, and West Bengal,” the representative stated.

Furthermore, security measures for the upcoming elections are being enhanced. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has allocated 50 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to Tamil Nadu to support election duties and maintain peace during the election period.

These units are expected to arrive in the state starting March 10. Sources within the Tamil Nadu Election Department have indicated that the Election Commission might hold a press conference to disclose the election timetable around March 9 or 10.

Once the election dates are officially announced, the Model Code of Conduct will immediately activate, temporarily halting the state administration's policy decision-making until the elections conclude.