Must-win election for Jayalalithaa ends with 74 percent polling (Intro Roundup)

An assembly by-election here that AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa must win to remain the Tamil Nadu chief minister ended on Saturday evening with tens of thousands voting.

Polling in the Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency where Jayalalithaa is pitted against CPI's C. Mahendran ended at 5 p.m. with some 74.4 percent of the around 250,000 electorate exercising their franchise.

According to an Election Commission statement issued here after polling, the 74.4 percent was a tentative figure and the final figure would be known only on the receipt of documents from all the 230 polling stations.

The polling percentage was higher this time compared to the 2011 assembly elections when the turnout was 72.72 percent.

While there were 28 candidates in the fray this time, only Mahendran of the Communist Party of India is being viewed as a serious opponent. Jayalalithaa is widely expected to win.

There are 26 other independents and candidates from smaller parties including social activist K.R. Ramaswamy, popularly known as "Traffic Ramaswamy".

Polling was brisk and peaceful throughout the day since it started at 8 a.m.

Men and women voters turned out in large numbers. Schools and colleges in the constituency were closed on Saturday. Votes will be counted on June 30.

Opposition parties like the DMK, the PMK, the DMDK, the Congress, the BJP and the MDMK stayed away from the contest.

The two Left parties -- CPI and CPI-M -- fielded Mahendran as their joint candidate.

The Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency fell vacant after AIADMK's P. Vetrival resigned from the house to facilitate Jayalalithaa's re-election to the assembly.

Jayalalithaa, elected from Srirangam in 2011, lost that seat and the chief minister's post after a trial court in Bengaluru convicted her in the disproportionate assets case.

The Karnataka High Court upheld her appeal and acquitted her of all charges. Jayalalithaa was again sworn in as chief minister, but she has to get elected to the assembly within six months.

The Karnataka government has gone on appeal against the high court order in the Supreme Court.

The Election Commission has introduced a E-Netra system (Election Novel Electronic Tracking and Rapid Action System) in the constituency to observe the model code of conduct, monitor the expenditure by candidates, and redress complaints through a single window.

For the first time in India, the poll panel introduced Electors Assistance System (EASY). Under this, voters in Radhakrishnan Nagar can get all election details. This facility is available through email, SMS and E-Netra MobileApp.