Turkish minister vows to keep lights on during polls

Turkey's top energy official has vowed that the government will take all measures to prevent electricity shortages during the June 7 elections after opposition parties expressed concerns because of a massive power blackout on March 31 that left most of the country in darkness. 

Energy Minister Taner Y?ld?z said his ministry would take necessary measures to keep the lights on during the upcoming parliamentary election while responding to the claims of the opposition parties. His statement came as the head of the electricity distribution unit announced his resignation from his post over the massive breakdown.

"We see that opposition parties have already begun to try to hide behind power cuts that may occur on election day. Politically speaking, I do not regard this as correct. All parties will compete under equal conditions in the elections," Y?ld?z told reporters at a press conference. 
 
A massive power outage affected more than 76 million people in 80 out of 81 Turkish provinces for up to nine hours on March 31. As a probe to find out the blackout was launched last week, oppositional parties have voiced their concerns about the protection of the polls because of a possible repeat of electricity shortages on June 7.

Opposition parties recalled electricity shortages that took place during the March 30, 2014, local polls that precipitated speculation about possible electoral irregularities.

Y?ld?z drew strong criticisms at the time for blaming the cuts on a cat that entered a power distribution unit.

"I'm not joking, my friends. A cat entered a power distribution unit. It was the cause of the blackout [in Ankara], and it's not the first time that it has happened. It is wrong to link it with the elections. It's...