Forty per cent polling till noon

Madurai, Oct 11 (UNI) An estimated 40 per cent polling was recorded in the by-election to the Madurai Central Assembly constituency till noon, official sources said.

Polling, which began at 0700 hrs, would end at 1700 hrs.

The ruling DMK, which held the seat, has fielded S S Ghouse Basha, while the opposition AIADMK has nominated its Urban District Secretary V V Rajan Chellappa.

The DMDK of filmstar-turned politician Vijaykanth has put up a green horn, M R Pannerselvam. In all, there are 19 candidates in the fray.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of DMK stalwart and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Minister P T R Palanivel Rajan on May 20.

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