In crucial test for ruling DMK, Tamil Nadu’s Erode votes for special election

Erode:

Voting began at 7 am on Monday for the bypoll to the Erode East seat in northwestern Tamil Nadu, which is being seen as a battle for prestige for the 21-month-old DMK government led by Chief Minister MK Stalin. Opposition AIADMK.

While 77 candidates are in the fray, the fight is largely being seen between DMK-backed Congress candidate EVKS Elangovan and AIADMK’s KS Thennarasu. Menaka Navaneethan of Naam Tamizhar Katchi is among the other candidates.

The outcome of the election, since the DMK will come to power in 2021, will not have a major bearing on the assembly strength of the respective parties, but is being seen as an indicator of the popularity of the ruling party.

For the AIADMK, the election is the first test for the leadership of former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, whose position as the party’s top boss was only last week cleared by the Supreme Court after a prolonged power struggle with rival O Panneerselvam.

The election saw a high-voltage campaign from both sides, with the DMK drafting top ministers and battling with the AIADMK over allegations of handing over cash.

Elangovan told NDTV after the vote, “There is nothing wrong with ministers campaigning for us. Bypolls are fought like this. Alleging notes for votes is propaganda.”

AIADMK’s KS Thennarasu said, “The ruling DMK has deployed all its ministers fearing defeat. The way MGR won the Dindugal bypoll when the DMK was in power, Erode East will be a turning point for the EPS.”

The election was called in Erode East due to the death of Elangovan’s son and Congress MLA E Thirumahan Evra. The constituency has a little over 2.27 lakh voters and 238 polling stations. District Magistrate Krishnan Unni was also among the first to vote.

“Everything is going well in the entire constituency. We are monitoring the situation at all the polling stations from our office,” Returning Officer Shivakumar told news agency ANI. North-western Tamil Nadu is seen as a high-stakes prestige battle for the 21-month-old DMK government led by Chief Minister MK Stalin as well as the opposition AIADMK.

While 77 candidates are in the fray, the fight is largely being seen between DMK-backed Congress candidate EVKS Elangovan and AIADMK’s KS Thennarasu. Menaka Navaneethan of Naam Tamizhar Katchi is among the other candidates.

The outcome of the election, since the DMK will come to power in 2021, will not have a major bearing on the assembly strength of the respective parties, but is being seen as an indicator of the popularity of the ruling party.

For the AIADMK, the election is the first test for the leadership of former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, whose position as the party’s top boss was only last week cleared by the Supreme Court after a prolonged power struggle with rival O Panneerselvam.

The election saw a high-voltage campaign from both sides, with the DMK drafting top ministers and battling with the AIADMK over allegations of handing over cash.

Elangovan told NDTV after the vote, “There is nothing wrong with ministers campaigning for us. Bypolls are fought like this. Alleging notes for votes is propaganda.”

AIADMK’s KS Thennarasu said, “The ruling DMK has deployed all its ministers fearing defeat. The way MGR won the Dindugal bypoll when the DMK was in power, Erode East will be a turning point for the EPS.”

The election was called in Erode East due to the death of Elangovan’s son and Congress MLA E Thirumahan Evra. The constituency has a little over 2.27 lakh voters and 238 polling stations. District Magistrate Krishnan Unni was also among the first to vote.

“Everything is going well in the entire constituency. We are monitoring the situation at all the polling stations from our office,” Returning Officer Shivakumar told news agency ANI.