Erode (East) bypoll 2025 | Pongal gift hampers to be distributed after obtaining permission from Election Commission

With the Model Code of Conduct in force in the Erode (East) Assembly constituency, where a bypoll is scheduled for February 5, the distribution of Pongal gift hampers will begin only after obtaining permission from the Election Commission.

Officials of the Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department said that there were 7,44,463 rice cardholders and 1,379 Sri Lankan Tamil families in the district who were eligible to receive the gift hampers. There were 878 full-time and 355 part-time ration shops in the district.

Distribution of gift hampers, that includes one kg of raw rice, one kg sugar, and a whole sugarcane, began ration shops across the district on Thursday. However, due to the bypoll, distribution has not yet started at ration shops located within the constituency, as officials are awaiting permission from the Election Commission.

Officials further said that after receiving permission, all cardholders in the constituency would receive the  gift hampers, and the date of distribution would be announced by ration shops in each locality. Since cardholders in the constituency were not informed about the delay in distribution, many visited the ration shops in the morning only to return empty-handed.

Published - January 09, 2025 05:27 pm IST