IndiaStates and CapitalsTamil Nadu(Chennai)

Erode (East) by-election

Chennai: About 80% of the more than 22,000 eligible voters participated in the Erode East by-election held in Tamil Nadu on Monday, and the voting was peaceful, according to officials. However, the election campaign was marked by controversy and violence.

At of 5 p.m., according to Tamil Nadu’s chief election officer Satyabrata Sahoo, the voter turnout was 79.58 percent. The polls opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 6 p.m.

Although there are 77 contestants, the by-election is between Congress candidate EVKS Elangovan and AIADMK candidate K S Thennarasu. Naam Tamilar Katchi’s Menkaka Navaneethan is the sole female candidate, although actor-turned-politician Vijayankanth’s Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam’s (DMDK) S Anand is also running.

The DMK-led coalition fielded Congress candidate Elangovan following the January death of his son and MLA Thirumahan Everaa’, which prompted this by-election. Elangovan expressed confidence to reporters after casting his ballot that 80% of the population would have voted for the ‘hand sign’ because it represented a secular coalition. “When they announced my name, the electorate had already decided to vote for secularism. The victory will boost the 20-month-old government of chief minister M K Stalin, according to Elangovan. “Similarly, the outcomes will be a result of Rahul Gandhi’s (Bharat Jodo) yatra,” the candidate for the Congress stated. This is also a forerunner to the elections for the Lok Sabha in 2024.

The AIADMK argued that the voting ink is of inferior quality and is easily removable. “We’ve heard complaints concerning the ink,” Thenarrasu told reporters, adding that the matter would be reported. He predicted a victory by a margin of 25,000 votes.

S Inbaraj of the AIADMK filed a complaint with the election commission on the ink. Returning officer K Sivakumar informed the media that they are utilising the ink provided by the Election Commission of India, and when questioned, they found no issues with it.

The district collector of Erode, H Krishnanunni, who was among the first voters, stated that voting was conducted without incident. He stated that EVMs were replaced in five locations due to faults. More than 1,500 local police officers and close to 700 CRPF soldiers were deployed to maintain law and order.

238 voting stations were set up for the by-election, which was campaigned for by high-ranking members of all political parties.

While the outcome of the byelection will not immediately affect the state’s political environment, it could set the tone for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

Stalin, president and chief minister of the DMK, had urged the electorate to view the by-election as a chance to judge the performance of his administration, which had kept its promises and to vote for his party’s ally, the Congress. K Palaniswami, the top leader of the AIADMK, blamed the ruling party for a variety of issues, including the increase in electricity tariff and the failure to secure NEET exemption for Tamil Nadu as promised, and he urged the people to teach the ruling party a lesson by voting for his party’s ‘two leaves symbol.

The returning officer, K Sivakumar, stated that the election was held and concluded without incident.

A portion of voters in polling places who were in line by 6 p.m. was given tokens and allowed to vote. Following the conclusion of voting, police and paramilitary troops conducted a march to instil confidence in the electorate and prevent public and party worker gatherings to eliminate the possibility of unpleasant incidents.

Many purported technological issues were reported, causing authorities to postpone voting in two voting booths.

The AIADMK alleged to the returning officer that DMK members were involved in the distribution of cash at Asokapuram, but when authorities got to the scene, no one was found, according to officials.

Complaints were made in Veerapanchathiram that votes for the targeted candidate were not registered after pressing a particular button on the electronic voting equipment (EVM). At Brough Road, the EVM was malfunctioning. In both locations, officials paused voting for a period of time before restarting it after resolving the problems.

Related Posts

Nisha

Hi, my name is Nisha and I'm an educational journalist based in India. I've always been passionate about the power of education to transform lives, and that's what led me to pursue a career in journalism focused on this area. I completed my Bachelor's degree in English from Hindu College in Delhi in 2013 and then went on to earn my Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in 2017. During my studies, I also completed several short-term courses on Education in India, Sociology, and other related subjects to deepen my knowledge in this field. I'm particularly interested in improving access to quality education in rural areas, where students often face significant challenges. I've worked on a number of initiatives to address this issue, including advocating for better policies, resources, and practices that can make a difference. As an educational journalist, I'm passionate about using my platform to highlight important issues in the education space. I've covered a wide range of topics, including the impact of technology in the classroom, innovative approaches to teaching and learning, and the challenges facing students from marginalized communities. One of the things I love most about my work is the opportunity to constantly learn and grow. I'm an avid reader and believe that reading is key to expanding one's knowledge and perspective. I'm always seeking out new ideas and insights to help me better understand the world around me. In summary, as an educational journalist, I'm dedicated to using my skills and expertise to make a positive impact in the field of education. I'm committed to improving access to quality education for all students and to using my platform to raise awareness about important issues in this area.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button