
The total number of voters in the Erode East segment is 2,27,546. According to officials, nine booths have been labelled as sensitive, and extra security was placed there. Raja Gopal Sunkara, the district collector, was one of the first voters.
The death of Congress legislator EVKS Elangovan on December 14, 2024, necessitated the by-polls in the Erode seat.
The ruling DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) has fielded former MLA V C Chandrakumar, while M K Seethalakshmi is representing the NTK (Nam Thamizhar Katchi).
However, the main opposition parties, AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) have chosen to boycott the polls. They allege that the DMK, under the leadership of Chief Minister MK Stalin, is using unfair methods to influence the election process.
As many as 46 candidates, including 44 independents, are contesting in the Erode East by-polls.
However, the main competition is between the ruling DMK and actor-politician Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK).
Meanwhile, actor-politician Vijay’s Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) has also joined the boycott. The party expressed worry over the ruling government’s misuse of power to win by-elections, claiming that such activities were significantly more common in by-elections than in general elections.
Earlier, on Sunday, DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin accused the AIADMK and BJP of conducting an ‘indirect war’ against his party by inciting ‘political fringes’ in the Erode East byelection.
Stalin claimed that the BJP and AIADMK were unable to face the voters or challenge DMK candidate VC Chandirakumar, therefore, they made false accusations against him. He claimed that these parties lacked the strength to reach the masses.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
First Published: Feb 5, 2025 5:26 PM IST