Chennai, Oct 6 (IANS) Polling commenced in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday amid extensive security arrangements, following an intensive campaign involving the state’s leading political figures and their respective party candidates.
Voting began at 7 a.m. at 285 polling stations in Madurantakam, in Chengalpattu district, and 320 in Dharapuram, in Tiruppur district. Polling will continue until 6 pm, with counting scheduled for October 9.
The bypolls were necessitated by the resignations of AIADMK legislators Maragatham Kumaravel and Sathyabama, who subsequently joined Chief Minister Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Both are contesting to regain their seats as TVK candidates.
Madurantakam has 27 candidates, including Kumaravel, the DMK’s Paranthaman, the AIADMK’s Ganitha Sampath, the CPI(M)’s Sugandhi and Naam Tamilar Katchi’s Janakiraman.
In Dharapuram, 22 candidates, including independents, are in the fray. The principal contestants include TVK’s Sathyabama, AIADMK’s Bhanumathi, DMK’s Sukanya, Naam Tamilar Katchi’s Karthika and CPI’s Lakshmanan.
Madurantakam has 2,13,788 registered voters, while Dharapuram has 2,23,306. Together, the two constituencies account for 4,37,094 voters, with election officials completing preparations for polling after campaigning ended.
Security deployment in Madurantakam includes 2,614 police personnel and 480 members of the Central Armed Police Forces. Around 1,000 police personnel have been deployed in Dharapuram to oversee security during voting.
Electronic voting machines and associated equipment were dispatched to polling stations on Monday. In Madurantakam, distribution took place from the Agriculture Department office opposite the taluk office, with each vehicle carrying voting equipment accompanied by armed police. In Dharapuram, officials transported electronic voting machines, control units and voter-verifiable paper audit trail machines to polling locations.
A total of 1,486 personnel, including polling officials and observers, are engaged in election duties in the constituency.
Polling station No. 72 at the Government Higher Secondary School in Kallapiranpuram, Madurantakam, has been designated exclusively for women voters.
The campaign saw CM Vijay canvassing for TVK candidates, while DMK president M.K. Stalin and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin sought support for their party’s nominees.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman also campaigned for their respective candidates.
Polling is also being held on Tuesday in Puducherry’s Thattanchavady Assembly constituency. Votes cast there will also be counted on October 9, when the results of all three bypolls are scheduled to be announced.
–IANS
aal/dpb