Erode East Bypolls: DMK and NTK Focus on Silent Voter Outreach
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Synopsis
As campaigning for the Erode East bypoll concludes, DMK and NTK engage in silent door-to-door outreach. The by-election on February 5 sees a direct contest between DMK and NTK after AIADMK and BJP's withdrawal. The DMK aims for a significant victory amidst scrutiny over recent issues.
Key Takeaways
- DMK and NTK pivot to silent outreach.
- Direct contest after AIADMK and BJP's exit.
- Polling on February 5 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- V.C. Chandhirakumar vs. M.K. Seethalakshmi.
- 2,27,546 registered voters in the constituency.
Chennai, Feb 4 (NationPress) As the campaigning for the Erode East bypoll wrapped up at 6 p.m. on Monday, members of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) have turned their attention to "silent door-to-door voter outreach". The by-election, scheduled for February 5, has evolved into a direct competition between the ruling DMK and NTK, following the withdrawal of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the contest.
The DMK candidate, former MLA V.C. Chandhirakumar, faces off against M. K. Seethalakshmi, the leader of the women's wing of NTK, which is led by actor-turned-politician Seeman.
The DMK, vying for this by-election after taking over the Erode East seat from its ally, the Congress, is optimistic about achieving a significant victory. The ruling party has approached this election with seriousness, despite the absence of candidates from AIADMK and BJP.
S. Muthusamy, Tamil Nadu Urban Development and Housing Minister and DMK's Erode district secretary, has been at the forefront of the campaign alongside local MP Prakash.
Muthusamy expressed confidence in a win for the DMK, projecting a margin of 1.2 lakh votes.
Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has instructed party leaders to ensure a decisive victory, while DMK’s youth wing leader and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has played a pivotal role in rallying support for V.C. Chandhirakumar.
Polling is set to occur from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with 46 candidates contesting. The constituency has 2,27,546 registered voters, comprising 1,10,128 men, 1,17,381 women, and 37 third-gender individuals.
Voting will take place across 237 polling stations, with the dispatch of election materials to polling centers scheduled to commence on Tuesday afternoon.
This by-election was necessitated by the passing of veteran Congress leader EVKS Elangovan, who had won the seat in the previous by-election after the untimely death of his son, Thirumahan Everaa, from a heart attack on January 4, 2023.
In the last by-poll, Elangovan won by a margin of 66,233 votes, defeating AIADMK's K.S. Thenarassu, while NTK's candidate Menaka Navaneethan garnered only 10,827 votes.
NTK's campaign, led by Seeman, focused on critiquing Dravidar Kazhagam founder 'Periyar' E.V. Ramasamy and targeting the DMK government.
Conversely, the DMK campaign, championed by Minister Muthusamy, highlighted the state government's accomplishments. While the election campaign remained mostly calm, tensions flared between NTK and Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) members on Sunday.
Following the incident, police filed over eight cases against Seeman, NTK candidate M.K. Seethalakshmi, and party members for breaching campaign curfews, staging a road blockade, and assaulting TPDK.
This bypoll arrives as the DMK government faces scrutiny due to recent controversies, including the Anna University sexual assault case and issues regarding law and order in Tamil Nadu.
The ruling party aims to leverage this election as a chance to reinforce the narrative of strong public support.
