Tamil Nadu: AIADMK, DMK to battle it out for Yercaud bypoll

Chennai: Ruling AIADMK and arch rival DMK are all set to fight it out for the Yercaud bypoll on Wednesday, which is being considered as a test case for the next Lok Sabha elections. “All arrangements have been made. We are treating all 290 polling booths in the district as sensitive booths. Security has been positioned in all required areas,” Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar told PTI. [caption id=“attachment_1263777” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File photo of an AIADMK rally. Firstpost[/caption] There would be live recording of poll proceedings at all these polling stations, he said. All polling stations have been covered by local police and CRPF contingent, who would be stationed throughout polling day, according to the Election Commission. A total of 43 Striking Forces at various levels has been deployed to redress any emergencies in the bypoll, in which over 2.4 lakh voters are expected to exercise their franchise. Though 11 candidates are in the fray after withdrawal of nominations, AIADMK’s P Saroja, wife of AIADMK legislator C Perumal, whose death necessitated the bypoll and DMK’s V Maran are the main contestants in the Yercaud face off. The remaining nine independents are also testing their electoral luck from the constituency. This is the fourth bypoll being held in Tamil Nadu since 2011 after AIADMK returned to power and the ruling dispensation has won all the three. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has gone all out to ensure that her party maintains the winning streak. DMK’s star campaigner M K Stalin, son of party patriarch M Karunanidhi has also toiled to annex the seat for his party. PTI