ECI Set to Reveal Erode East Bypoll Date Today

Chennai, Jan 7 (NationPress) The Election Commission of India (ECI) is poised to announce the date for the Erode East Assembly bypoll today (January 7). It is expected that the ECI may unveil the bypoll date alongside the Delhi Assembly election schedule, which is also anticipated to be declared today.

The Erode East assembly constituency is preparing for its second by-election within two years. The seat became vacant due to the demise of Congress stalwart E.V.K.S. Elangovan on December 14, 2024.

Elangovan, who was the grandnephew of social reformer Periyar EV Ramasamy, was elected to the seat during a bypoll held in early 2023. His candidacy came after the sudden passing of his son, Thirumagan Everaa, who tragically died at the age of 46 from a heart attack in January 2023.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin visited Erode district on December 19 and 20, 2024, to bolster the party's presence ahead of the bypoll and the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections.

During his visit, Stalin held a series of meetings with senior DMK officials and assessed the party's performance in Erode during the 2021 assembly elections.

As per DMK insiders, Stalin sought feedback on the selection of candidates for the Erode East bypoll. Tamil Nadu Minister and Erode South district secretary S. Muthusamy reportedly informed the Chief Minister that following EVKS Elangovan and his family, there are no notable Congress leaders from Erode left to contest the seat.

Muthusamy further indicated that party members are eager for the DMK to contest the seat rather than fielding a Congress candidate.

Stalin instructed party workers to rectify weaknesses in constituencies across the district, particularly those lost to the AIADMK or won by narrow margins.

Specific constituencies reviewed included Perundurai, which the DMK failed to secure in 2021; Anthiyur, where the DMK won with a narrow margin of 1,275 votes; and Bhavanisagar, where the DMK ally CPI faced a loss.

The DMK has set an ambitious goal of winning 200 out of the 234 seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. To meet this objective, Stalin directed officials to prioritize local issues and strengthen the party’s presence in vulnerable constituencies.

A special committee is expected to be established to strategize and ensure success in critical constituencies within the Erode district.

Moreover, the DMK has appointed full-time coordinators for each assembly constituency. Senior leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister and Youth Wing leader Udhayanidhi Stalin and organizing Secretary R.S. Bharathi, are overseeing constituency-level initiatives.

The DMK-led coalition currently holds a collective 159 seats in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly, comprising 133 seats for DMK, 18 for Congress, 4 for VCK, 2 for CPI, and 2 for CPI(M). The alliance achieved a notable vote share of 45.38 percent in the previous state assembly elections.