Chennai/New Delhi:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has objected to the election schedule for Tamil Nadu.
On Tuesday, the Election Commission announced that the state will vote on April 13 and that counting will be held on May 13. Four other states including Kerala and West Bengal are voting in April and May, and the results for all five states will be declared together.
Mr Karunanidhi says the gap of a month between voting and counting is inexplicable.
In an editorial in the DMK mouthpiece, the Chief Minister said that the current Assembly's term expires on May 16, and that allows just three days for the formation of the new government.
He also said that the schedule gives political parties just 17 days for campaigning.
Mr Karunanidhi said his government had not been consulted about the election schedule.
The BJP in Tamil Nadu has also said the decision to hold elections on the eve of the Tamil New Year will impede upon festivities in the state.