By-election voting is underway in Tamil Nadu’s Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies, having begun at 7 a.m. this morning. As of 9 a.m., voter turnout stood at 15.99% in Madurantakam and 17.55% in Dharapuram.
Voting will continue until 6 p.m. The votes cast in the election will be counted on the 9th, and the results will be announced.
In the Madurantakam constituency, 27 candidates are in the fray, including Maragatham Kumaravel (TVK), Paranthaman (DMK), Kanitha Sampath (AIADMK), Sugandhi (Marxist), Janakiraman (Naam Tamilar), and independents.
Similarly, in the Dharapuram constituency, 22 candidates are contesting, including Sathyabama (TVK), Suganya (DMK), Bhanumathi (AIADMK), Latchumanan (CPI), and Karthika (NTK).
After casting her vote in the Dharapuram by-election, TVK candidate Sathyabama told reporters that she was confident of winning by a margin of one lakh votes.
In an interview after voting, AIADMK candidate Bhanumathi said, “Dharapuram has always been an AIADMK stronghold. The AIADMK’s chances of victory are bright.”
19.20% voter turnout in Thattanchavadi
In the Legislative Assembly election held in Puducherry, Chief Minister Rangasamy, who contested and won in two constituencies, Mangalam and Thattanchavady, resigned from the Thattanchavady constituency. Following this, the Election Commission officially announced the by-election schedule on the 7th of last month. Accordingly, the by-election began today (Oct. 6) at 7 a.m.
In the Thattanchavady constituency, a total of 11 candidates are in the fray: 6 representing political parties and 5 independents. The contest is mainly between N.R. Congress candidate Ashok Anand, Congress candidate Vinayagam, DMK candidate Sethuselvam, and Communist Party of India candidate A.M. Saleem.
In this situation, as of 9 a.m. in Thattanchavadi, 19.20% of the votes had been cast.
Out of the total 31 polling stations, the booths at Koundampalayam Muthu Rathinam Arangam Higher Secondary School and Vinobanagar Poiyakulam Community Hall were identified as sensitive. Therefore, additional security has been deployed here.
