Brisk polling in progress in TN by-elections

Chennai, May 19 (IANS) The four Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu - Aravakuruchi, Sulur, Thiruparankundram and Ottapidaram - where by-elections are underway on Sunday have seen brisk and peaceful polling since morning.

The ruling AIADMK has lodged a complaint with the Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) against the DMK for restraining voters from casting their vote in Aravakuruchi.

According to the Election Commission (EC), 48.04 per cent voting was recorded in Sulur, 52.68 per cent in Aravakuruchi, 47.09 per cent in Thiruparankundram and 45.06 per cent in Ottapidaram by 1 p.m.

As per the AIADMK complaint to the EC, the DMK's Aravakuruchi candidate Senthil Balaji had wrongfully restrained voters in the constituency from voting, thus, violating poll norms.

There were reports of delayed voting in some booths due to technical glitches in the electronic voting machines (EVMs), which were sorted out quickly.

Repolling in 13 booths in the Erode, Dharmapuri, Tiruvallur and Cuddalore Lok Sabha constituencies in the state is also proceeding peacefully.

Voters in the four Assembly constituencies will decide the electoral fate of 137 candidates in the fray.

The main contest in the state is triangular - between the ruling AIADMK, the principal opposition party DMK and the Independent legislator T.T.V. Dhinakaran-led AMMK.

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) candidates are also in the fray.

By-elections for 18 Assembly constituencies were held on April 18, along with the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls in the state.

According to the Election Commission, about 16,000 police personnel have been deployed in the four Assembly seats for security purposes.