Madurai Assembly by poll begins

Polling for the Madurai West Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu began this morning.

Madurai, June 26 : Polling for the Madurai West Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu began this morning.

The seat fell vacant in February following the death of sitting All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) member S V Shanmugam.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance's KSK Rajendran (Congress candidate), and the AIADMK's Sellur Raju are contesting for the seat.

Polling will be monitored by the Principal Secretary to the Election Commission A K Majumdhar, accompanied by a team of professors and scientists. It includes L N Das, Professor of IIT, Shict, Professor of Central Institute of Plastic Engineering Technology and Suman Singh, scientist of the Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are being used in this bye-election.

Around 20 new check posts have been set up around the constituency, each of which have been manned by four armed CRPF personnel and two local policemen.

As far as security arrangements are concerned, a Special SP, assisted by six DSPs, have been on duty to supervise security arrangements,

Besides the Central paramilitary forces, 1,474 personnel of the State police, including Tamil Nadu Special Police, have been deployed on election duty.

Counting of votes will take place on June 29.

ANI