Incident-free polling in TN by-election

Madurai, Oct 11 (UNI) Under an extraordinary security umbrella, an estimated 70 per cent voters of the over 1.32 lakh electorate exercised their franchise today in the by-election to the Madurai Central assembly constituency.

Polling, which began on a dull note, picked up later with voters queuing up at many booths. Women and youth turned up in large numbers.

While the ruling DMK, which held the seat, fielded S S Ghouse Basha, the opposition AIADMK nominated its Urban District Secretary V V Rajan Chellappa. The DMDK of filmstar-turned-politician Vijaykant has put up a green horn, M R Pannerselvam. In all there are 19 candidates were in the fray.

The by-poll was necessitated following the death of DMK stalwart and Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P T R Palanivel Rajan on May 20.

In the previous election held in May, the late Palanivel Rajan secured 43,185 of the total 94,226 votes polled and trounced his AIADMK rival S T K Jakkaiyan by a margin of 6193 votes.

With three-tier security for all 154 polling booths declared sensitive and videography in each of them, polling was incident free.

In the wake of apprehensions over free and fair poll following violence involving both AIADMK and DMK functionaries and supporters at the peak of campaign, 3000 police personnel and three companies of paramilitary forces were deployed for security. In addition, RAF and three companies of Karnataka Special Armed Police were stationed.

Marriage halls in the city were made out of bounds for political conclaves since last weekend to prevent alleged cash distribution to voters. Outside elements, posing a threat to the peaceful conduct of the poll, were removed from lodging houses and other places.

Of the 26 election-related cases registered during the campaign ten pertained to distribution of cash and 35 people, 28 belonging to the DMK and seven AIADMK, including a former AIADMK Minister, had been arrested on various election-related offences.

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