Die is cast in Erode East, poll percentage dips to 67.97%

All wards in the Assembly constituency saw brisk polling from beginning itself

- P SRINIVASAN @Erode

THE by-election to the Erode East assembly constituency, which fell vacant for the second time in the 16th state assembly due to the sudden demise of Congress leader EVKS Elangovan, went off peacefully, with a minor incident of scuffle between DMK and NTK cadres.

With the main opposition parties - AIADMK, BJP, PMK, and DMDK - deciding to boycott the by-election, the voting percentage came down marginally.

At the end of the polling on Wednesday, the constituency recorded around 71% of votes (projected figure). This is less than 74.79% of votes polled during the previous by-election held on February 27, 2023.

All the wards in the constituency saw brisk polling, from the start of the polling at 7 am. Despite the hot weather, people waited in long queues in front of the polling booths to exercise their franchise.