Vikravandi bypoll: 29.97 per cent votes recorded till 11 am
The by-election for the Vikravandi assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu started on Wednesday, with voters showing up early as polling stations opened at 7 am.
There are 29 candidates vying for the seat, and the vote-counting is set for July 13.
By 11 am, voter turnout had reached 29.97%, reflecting an enthusiastic early turnout.
The by-election was called following the death of DMK legislator N. Pughazhendhi, who passed away on April 6 due to illness. The constituency has 2.34 lakh registered voters, including 1.15 lakh men and 1.18 lakh women.
The by-election is a triangular contest involving DMK’s Anniyur Siva (alias Sivashanmugam A), PMK’s C. Anbumani and Naam Tamilar Katchi’s K. Abinaya.
Tight security arrangements have been made at polling booths. The principal opposition parties, AIADMK and its ally DMDK, have chosen to boycott the bypoll.
Meanwhile, PMK, an ally of the BJP, and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) are determined to challenge the ruling DMK’s prospects, according to a report on PTI.