DMK candidate V.C. Dhandhirakumar won the Erode (East) bypoll by a margin of 91,558 votes.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The counting of votes for the byelection to the Erode (East) Assembly constituency began at the Government College of Engineering in Chithode on Saturday (February 8, 2025).
The DMK won the Erode bypoll by a margin of 91,558 votes. DMK candidate V.C. Chandhirakumar was declared the winner. All the 45 candidates forfeited their deposits.
As for postal ballot votes — results of which were announced at 11:30 a.m. — the DMK candidate secured 197 votes, whereas the NTK candidate got 13 votes. Eighteen votes were found to be invalid, and eight were NOTA votes. Other candidates and Independents collectively secured 15 votes.
Also read: Erode (East) bypoll 2025 | Tension at counting hall over occupying seat in the front
The strongroom containing three boxes with postal ballots was unsealed at 7.35 a.m. in the presence of District Election Officer and Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara, General Observer Ajay Kumar Gupta, and Returning Officer and Corporation Commissioner H.S. Srikanth. The boxes were taken to the counting hall, and the counting began at 8.15 a.m. The strongrooms with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) used in 237 polling stations were also unsealed, and the machines were taken to the hall.
As many as 51 staff members were involved in the counting process. Fourteen tables were used for counting, and each of them had three counting staff, monitored by a micro-observer. A closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera was assigned to each table.
Votes were expected to be counted over a total of 17 rounds. The results of each round would be sent to the Election Commission instantly and also announced through the public address system at the counting centre.
Out of the total 2,27,546 electors, 1,54,657 cast their votes, including 74,260 men, 80,376 women, and 21 transgender voters. The polling, held on February 5, recorded a turnout of 67.98%. A total of 46 candidates contested the byelection. Major political parties like the AIADMK and BJP boycotted the poll.
DMK workers celebrate
DMK workers celebrating outside the counting centre in Chithode
| Photo Credit:
M. Govarthan
With Mr. Chandhirakumar maintaining the lead, DMK cadre celebrated outside the counting centre at the Government College of Engineering. They burst crackers, hugged each other, distributed sweets, and danced along the Salem-Kochi National Highway, where the counting centre is located.
Published – February 08, 2025 09:15 am IST
