Erode East Bypoll Election Result Live: DMK's Chandhirakumar wins, District election officer announces

The Erode East Assembly bypoll saw 46 candidates in the fray, including 44 independents. However, the real contest was between the ruling DMK’s V.C. Chandhirakumar and Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK) candidate M.K. Seethalakshmi.The bypoll result will be announced today. The election, held on February 5, recorded a voter turnout of 67.97%, about 7% lower than the 2023 byelection. Despite the decline, the turnout was considered high, as both the AIADMK and BJP had boycotted the polls, leaving the primary battle between the DMK and NTK.Polling began at 7am and proceeded smoothly, with 1.44 lakh out of 2.26 lakh registered voters casting their ballots. DMK candidate Chandhirakumar was among the early voters, while NTK’s Seethalakshmi, a resident of Gobichettipalayam, was unable to vote due to her voter registration in a different constituency. She alleged that NTK booth agents were threatened by DMK functionaries, a claim dismissed by election officials. A minor controversy arose when a voter discovered that her ballot had already been cast.Although 14 EVMs encountered minor glitches, they were promptly fixed, and polling concluded without major disruptions. Chandhirakumar expressed confidence in a landslide victory, while AIADMK insiders acknowledged that some party members had voted despite the official boycott. Over 2,100 security personnel were deployed to ensure a smooth electoral process.The EVMs were transported to Chitode for vote counting on February 8. This bypoll was necessitated by the passing of Congress MLA E.V.K.S. Elangovan, and its outcome is expected to have a significant impact on the region’s political landscape. Stay with TOI for more updates: