ERODE: All preparations have been completed for the Erode East byelection, and electronic voting machines have been moved to the polling stations from the municipal corporation office. Polling will begin at 7am on Wednesday.
The byelection was necessitated by the death of Congress MLA EVKS Elangovan on Dec 14.
A total of 46 candidates are contesting in this byelection, including DMK’s VC Chandhirakumar and Naam Tamilar Katchi’s MK Seethalakshmi.
Erode district collector and district election officer Rajagopal Sunkara said there are 237 polling booths at 53 polling centres. There are 2,26,433 registered voters — 1,09,636 male, 1,16,760 female and 37 transgender voters.
Thirty three out of 60 wards in the Erode Municipal Corporation are part of the Erode East legislative assembly constituency.
“Of the 237 polling stations, nine have been identified as tense,” he noted, adding that CCTV cameras are installed at all locations and micro-observers have been assigned.
As many as 1,500 police personnel have been deployed for security.
Sunkara said the district administration has granted paid leave for voters in the constituency. “Strict measures will be taken against anyone who does not adhere to this directive,” he said.
All necessary facilities have been set up at polling stations to ensure voters can easily access and cast their votes. All necessary facilities, including drinking water and toilets are available at polling stations.
Booth slips have been distributed to 90% of the voters in the constituency, and those without slips can vote after producing one of the 12 types of documents including voter’s identity card and PAN card.
Among the 256 people who applied for postal voting due to disabilities, 246 have registered to vote by mail after submitting Form 12-D.
The district election officer said the election flying squads had seized Rs 54 lakh thus far, with Rs 42 lakh released after the submission of necessary documents and Rs 12 lakh still under investigation.

He said 57 complaints had been received through the toll-free number 1950 and the C Vigil app. “Prompt action was taken on each complaint,” he said.
Counting of votes will take place at the Government Engineering College in Chithode on Feb 8. Once voting concludes on Wednesday, all machines will be transported to Government Engineering College in Chithode where votes will be counted on Feb 8.
CCTV cameras are set up in the counting area, and armed paramilitary personnel are on guard for security.
Eight cases registered against Seeman
Sunkara said eight cases were registered against NTK chief Seeman. “Seven of these cases are for breaching election regulations, while one pertains to his hate speech,” he said.