Synopsis
The by-election for Erode East is on February 5, with 237 polling stations prepared for voters. Enhanced security measures are in place, and a mock voting session will be conducted to ensure readiness.Key Takeaways
- 237 polling stations set up for the by-election.
- Strong security measures in place.
- Mock voting session to test EVMs.
- DMK and NTK in a direct contest.
- Vote counting scheduled for February 8.
Chennai, Feb 4 (NationPress) The by-election for the Erode East Assembly constituency is scheduled for Wednesday. The Election Commission has made significant preparations, establishing 237 polling stations across 53 locations to facilitate a seamless voting experience.
Prior to the election, all polling stations have been outfitted with necessary amenities, such as toilets, drinking water, waiting areas, and ramps for differently-abled voters.
To manage the voting procedure, 24 zonal officers have been appointed and provided with GPS-enabled vehicles.
Security has been considerably heightened, with paramilitary personnel stationed at polling sites. The police have also conducted inspections at hotels, wedding halls, and community centers in Erode to prevent unauthorized stays by outsiders.
Furthermore, final training sessions were held today for polling personnel, who will be present at the voting centers.
Meanwhile, officials have commenced the transfer of 97 electronic voting machines (EVMs) from a secure storage facility to their designated polling stations.
A mock voting session is set to take place at 6:00 AM on Wednesday (February 5) to test the EVMs, with official voting beginning at 7:00 AM and continuing until 6:00 PM.
The constituency boasts a total of 2,27,576 registered voters, comprising 1,10,128 men, 1,17,381 women, and 37 transgender individuals.
As part of the early voting process, 246 voters aged over 85 and differently-abled individuals have already exercised their right to vote via postal ballots.
This by-election has become a direct contest between the ruling DMK party and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), following the withdrawal of AIADMK and BJP from the competition.
The DMK candidate is former MLA V.C. Chandhirakumar, who is contesting after the party reclaimed the Erode East seat from its ally, Congress.
NTK has nominated M.K. Seethalakshmi, the leader of the party's women's wing, under the guidance of actor-turned-politician Seeman.
This by-election was necessitated by the passing of veteran Congress leader E.V.K.S Elangovan, who had won the seat in the 2023 by-election after the untimely demise of his son, Thirumahan Everaa, due to a heart attack on January 4, 2023.
The DMK is treating this election with utmost seriousness, even in the absence of candidates from AIADMK and BJP.
S. Muthusamy, the Urban Development and Housing Minister and the DMK’s Erode district secretary, spearheaded the campaign alongside local MP Prakash.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has directed party leaders to ensure a resounding victory, while DMK’s youth wing leader and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin has played a pivotal role in rallying support. Muthusamy expressed confidence that the DMK would secure victory by a margin of 1.2 lakh votes.
NTK, led by Seeman, has concentrated its campaign on criticizing the Dravidian ideologue ‘Periyar’ E.V. Ramasamy and challenging the policies of the DMK government. However, tensions flared when NTK members clashed with Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) cadres on Sunday.
In the aftermath of the confrontation, police have filed over eight cases against Seeman, NTK candidate M.K. Seethalakshmi, and party members for campaign infractions, staging a road blockade, and assaulting TPDK activists.
Voting is scheduled for February 5 from 7 AM to 6 PM, with EVMs being transported under stringent police security to Siddha Government College for vote counting.
The counting of votes is expected on February 8, with results to be announced the same day. A pre-election survey conducted by People Studies between January 28 and 31 among 1,470 respondents predicted a decisive win for DMK, with 59.5 percent of respondents indicating support for the DMK while 16.7 percent favored NTK, and 17.6 percent stated they would not vote.
The DMK government is utilizing this election as a chance to reaffirm public backing, particularly in light of recent controversies such as the Anna University sexual assault case and concerns regarding law and order in Tamil Nadu.
As polling approaches, the atmosphere is charged for a critical by-election that could solidify the DMK’s political dominance in the state.
