8 hrs ago
Strong Turnout as Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Bypoll Voting Ends
People voted in three special elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on Tuesday.
Voting ended at 6 p.m.
in all three places.
Many people turned out to vote, although the reported numbers were not all final.
In one Tamil Nadu polling station, officials paused voting to check a complaint about a voting machine.
Officials fixed some other machine problems, too.
Voting was otherwise reported to be peaceful.
The elections are an early test for the governments led by C. Joseph Vijay and N. Rangasamy.
The votes will be counted on October 9.
Polling ended at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu and Thattanchavady in Puducherry.
Interim turnout at 3 p.m. was 83.86% in Madurantakam and 78.53% in Dharapuram; Thattanchavady recorded 78.83% at 5 p.m.
Voting was largely peaceful, though complaints about an EVM marking and brief technical faults caused isolated interruptions that officials addressed.
The bypolls are an early electoral test for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s TVK government and Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy’s four-month-old NDA government.
Votes in all three constituencies are scheduled to be counted on October 9.
- Who
- Voters in Madurantakam and Dharapuram in Tamil Nadu, and Thattanchavady in Puducherry; candidates from several parties contested.
- What
- Assembly bypolls were held, with strong turnout and some isolated interruptions.
- Where
- Madurantakam and Dharapuram, Tamil Nadu, and Thattanchavady, Puducherry.
- When
- Tuesday; polling ended at 6 p.m. Votes are scheduled to be counted on October 9.
- Why
- The seats became vacant after legislators resigned or, in Thattanchavady, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy chose to retain another constituency; the bypolls also test the popularity of the state governments.
Complaints and allegations
Officials’ response
EVM symbol marking at Thandarai
Complaints and allegations
DMK polling agents alleged that indelible ink marks on the EVM button beside the TVK candidate’s whistle symbol could influence voters.
Officials’ response
Officials inspected the machine, addressed the complaint and resumed polling.
Polling-station access at Vilvarayanallur
Complaints and allegations
DMK cadres accused police of allowing TVK workers to stay closer to the polling-station entrance than election rules permitted.
Officials’ response
The report provides no specific response from police or election officials to this accusation.
Key facts
- Polling ended
- 6 p.m. Tuesday
- Madurantakam turnout
- 83.86% at 3 p.m.; interim Election Commission figure
- Dharapuram turnout
- 78.53% at 3 p.m.; interim Election Commission figure
- Thattanchavady turnout
- 78.83% at 5 p.m.; expected to rise after votes through closing time were counted
- Candidates
- 27 in Madurantakam and 22 in Dharapuram
- Vote counting
- October 9
- Security
- Local police and Central Armed Police Forces were deployed
Sources
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