AMN
Voting for assembly by-polls to six seats in five states are on. According to an Election Commission order, in any election being held after May 1, the ballot papers will carry the picture of the candidate with his or her name and party symbol to avoid confusion among the electorate in constituencies where namesakes are contesting.
Today’s by-polls are the first since the order came into effect.
Besides Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar (Tamil Nadu), from where the AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa is contesting, byelections are being held in Chokpot (Meghalaya), Aruvikkara (Kerala), Pratapgarh and Surma (Tripura) and Garoth (Madhya Pradesh).
Jayalalithaa, who took over as Chief Minister for the fifth time recently, has to get elected to the Legislative Assembly within six months of assuming office.
In Tamil Nadu, brisk polling is reported at Chennai RK Nagar Assembly constituency by-election amid tight security.
13 percentage of polling has been recorded in the first two hours.
Around 2.47 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise.
Polling will continue till 5 PM today.
Monitoring the polls from the control room in Chennai, Tamil Nadu CEO Mr. Sandeep Saxena told reporters that polling is by and large peaceful.
For the first time in the state, candidates’ photos are displayed in the Electronic Voting Machine along with their names and party symbols.
As many as 28 candidates including AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister Ms Jayalalithaa and C Mahendran of CPI are in the fray.
Opposition parties including DMK, DMDK, BJP, Congress, MDMK, and PMK are not contesting in this election.
Counting of votes will take place on Tuesday.
The by poll was necessitated due to the resignation AIADMK member Mr. Vetrivel after the Karnataka high court acquitted Ms. Jayalalithaa from the disproportionate assets case.
In Kerala, Aruvikkara by-election polling is progressing peacefully in all 154 booths spread across eight Panchayaths.
Polling began at 7 am.
More than 1,84,000 voters are to elect their MLA from among 16 candidates for the remaining one year period of the congress-led Government of Kerala.
Election Commission made elaborate arrangements for smooth polling.
Aruvikkara is now a prestigious seat for UDF, LDF and BJP. A keen, three cornered contest is on.
BJP fielded senior leader and former Union Minister O. Rajagopal.
Former Minister as well as former Speaker M. Vijayakumar of CPI(M) is the candidate of LDF. K.S. Sabareenathan, son of former speaker late G. Karthikeyan is contesting on UDF ticket.
The by- election has been necessitated following the demise of sitting MLA G. Karthikeyan.