TN bypoll: Congress candidate enjoys good lead

Madurai, June 29: Congress candidate K S K Rajendran is leading by a margin of 7,766 votes over his nearest AIADMK rival Sellur K Raju in the byelection to the Madurai West Assembly constituency, counting for which began at 0800 hrs today.

At the end of fifth round of counting, the Congress candidate polled 20,184 votes and the AIADMK nominee 12,418.

The results of the June 26 bypoll, held amidst elaborate security arrangements by the Central paramilitary forces, were expected to be announced in another hour's time.

An estimated 75 per cent of the total electorate of 1,56,180, including 74,649 women, had exercised their franchise in the byelection.

For the first time, para-military forces had been entrusted with the security of polling booths/centres. The State police had been directed by the Election Commission to stay 100 metres away from the polling stations.

Despite 29 candidates being in the fray, the contest was essentially among Mr Rajendran of the Congress, Mr Raju (AIADMK) and Siva Muthu Kumaran of the DMDK of filmstar Vijaykant. While the BJP had nominated Sasiraman, the Puthiya Thamizhagam of Dalit leader Dr K Krishnasamy had fielded V Chitrarasu.

The bypoll was necessitated by the death of AIADMK Legislator S V Shanmugham on February five.

UNI

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