Chennai | Amid tight security, polling commenced at 7 am on Tuesday for the byelections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram reserved Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, officials said.
People began gathering in front of the polling stations well ahead of the start of the polling exercise and enthusiastically waited to exercise their franchise.
The polling, which commenced at 7 am will continue upto 6 pm.
In Dharapuram, DMK candidate S Suganya was among the early voters and speaking to reporters, she expressed confidence of winning the bypoll.
In Madurantakam segment, there was some delay in the start of polling in a polling station due to a technical issue related to VVPAT and it was sorted out.
Madurantakam and Dharapuram have over 2.13 lakh and 2.23 lakh voters respectively.
Officials said all arrangements are in place to ensure basic amenities like "Shamiana pandal," to provide shade. Also, arrangement is in place to safely deposit mobile phones as phones are not allowed inside the polling booth.
Elaborate security and surveillance arrangements are in place and personnel from Tamil Nadu and Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed.
The government has declared a public holiday for areas falling under the two Assembly segments in view of polling and has directed that the employees/workers shall be granted paid holiday.
In Madurantakam, a segment in north Tamil Nadu near Chennai, 27 candidates are contesting and in Dharapuram, a part of western Tamil Nadu, there are 22 candidates.
A tough five-corner fight is on as the ruling TVK, main opposition DMK, key Dravidian party AIADMK, the Left Front, and Tamil nationalist TVK are in the fray.
Before the voting commenced, officials conducted mock poll exercises in both segments in the presence of agents of parties to cross check the working condition of the EVMs.
The elections were necessitated due to the resignation of then AIADMK MLAs Maragatham Kumaravel and P Satyabama from Madurantakam (Chengalpet dt) and Dharapuram (Tiruppur dt) before they joined the Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay-led TVK.
They have been re-nominated by the TVK. The DMK and AIADMK are in the contest in both seats.
