04-Feb-2025 03:55 PM
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Chennai, Feb 4 (Reporter) The stage is set for the Erode East Assembly constituency bypoll
to be held tomorrow.
All arrangements were put in place and the names of candidates and the symbols were
entered into the EVMs.
Tight security arrangements were put in place for the bypoll and outsiders were asked to
leave the constituency soon after the the low-key campaign ended last evening.
Polling will be held in a total of 237 booths of which more than 10 booths were identified
as vulnerable and sensitive and additioinal security personnel were deployed in the booths.
Micro observers would monitor the polling process at these stations and cameras were
installed for round-the-clock surveillance.
The District Election Officer and senior police officials inspected the security arrangements
put in place at the polling booths and at the counting centre, where the counting of votes would
take place on February 8.
With the major political parties staying away from the contest, the campaign turned out to be
a low-key affair with the main contest being between the ruling DMK's V C Chandrakumar and
M K Seethalakshi of the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) of actor-director Seeman.
With the DMK assured of a win, the campaign turned out to be a low key affair, when compared
to previous bypolls.
It would be a 'dead rubber' contest and the only question is about the margin of votes the DMK
would win.
Unlike in the past, it was not a high decibel election which marks byelections in the state since the 90s, with
ruling party clearly having an edge.
Except DMK Lok Sabha MP Ms Kanimozhi, a few State Ministers, district functionaries and
secretaries, none of the top DMK leaders, including DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief
Minister M K Stalin, his son and star campaigner and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi
Stalin hit the campaign trail.
For NTK candidate Party founder Seeman was the lone campaigner who had launched a
virulent attack against the ruling DMK during electioneering.
A total of 46 candidates were in fray for the byelection. In all 65 candidates, including ten
women, have filed their papers. After scrutiny and withdrawals, the final list of candidates
came down to 46.
The bypoll will witness a direct contest between the ruling DMK and the NTK.
DMK Assistant Propaganda Secretary V C Chandrakumar, who had joined the
party in 2016 after quitting the actor-politician Vijayakanth-led DMDK, and NTK
candidate, Ms Seethalakshmi, also the party's Women's Wing Coordinator, were
the main candidates, while the rest were Independents.
With the major Opposition parties, including the AIADMK, its ally the DMDK, the
BJP-led NDA and the the nascent Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) of actor Vijay
deciding to boycott the polls alleging that going by the past experience the elections
would not be held in a free and fair manner as the DMK would unleash its money
power and misuse the official machinery, the bypoll will witness a straight contest
between the DMK and the NTK.
Though the Congress had held the seat in 2021 and 2023, it had conceded the seat
to the DMK on a request from DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin.
This followed talks the DMK had with the Congress and after reaching an unanimous
decision between them keeping in mind the ensuing 2026 Assembly elections, following
which Mr Stalin announced Chandrakumar as the candidate for the bypoll with the
support of the allies of the DMK-led Front.
According to TNCC President K Selvaperunthagai, who is also the Congress Legislature
Party Leader in the State Assembly, the Congress party decided not to contest the bypoll
and gave the seat to the DMK, which is heading the INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu, on a first
time request from Mr Stalin citing the ensuing 2026 Assembly polls.
"On a request from Mr Stalin, who is heading the INDIA alliance bloc in the State, and after
holding discussions with the Congress High Command and State party office-bearers, it was unanimously decided that the DMK would contest the bypoll", he said.
The bypoll, the second in two years, was necessitated following the death of Senior Congress
Leader and sitting MLA EVKS Elangovan in December last year.
This is the third election to this seat since 2021 in which Mr Elangovan's son Thiru Mahan
E.Ve.Ra was elected to the Assembly for the first time.
However, his untimely death resulted in bypoll held on February 28, 2023 and it was won by
Mr Elangovan, who is also a former Union Minister and former TNCC President, by highest
ever margin of over 66,000 votes and entered the State Assembly after a gap of 39 years.
However, Mr Elangovan's unfortunate death in December 2024, has resulted in yet another
bypoll to the seat, which the Congress gave it to the DMK...////...