Chennai, Mar 7 (Reporter) The Tirukkovilur Assembly seat in Villuppuram district of Tamil Nadu, which was held by former Higher Education Minister K.Ponmudy, was declared vacant after he was automatically disqualification following his conviction in a corruption case. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretariat has declared the seat vacant about three months after Mr Ponmudy was convicted and awarded three years jail term by the Madras High Court in the disproportionate assets case. It said the Election Commission of India (ECI) was also informed about the vacancy, official sources said. Following his conviction, Mr. Ponmudy was automatically disqualified from holding membership of the State Assembly under the Representation of People's Act. It may be noted that a few days back the main Opposition AIADMK had submitted a representation to the Assembly Speaker seeking to declare the seat as vacant. With this a total of two seats had been declared as vacant after three-time Congress MLA from Vilavancode in the southern Kanniyakumari district S.Vijayadharani had quit the party and joined the BJP and later resigned her MLA post after she was expelled from the primary membership of the party. Days after Ms Vijayadharani resigned as Legislator after quitting the party and joining the BJP, the Vilavancode Assembly seat in Tamil Nadu represented by her has been declared vacant a few days ago. A notification from the Assembly Secretariat had said that the Speaker had accepted her resignation and the seat had become vacant with effect from February 24. By-election will now be held for both the seat Vilavancode and Tirukkovilur seats and it ECI to decide on whether to hold it along with the ensuing Lok Sabha polls or at a later date...////...