RK Nagar Assembly bypoll records 75% turnout

Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, 27 others contest in the bypoll

Around 75 per cent electorate of the Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency in Chennai casted their vote in the by-election, where Tamil Nadu CM J Jayalalithaa contested along with 27 others.

“The tentative poll percentage for the by-election is 74.4 per cent,” said the Election Commission official statement. The poll was held in 230 polling stations.

The poll was monitored in the CEO's office as well as District Election Officer's office in Chennai through their control rooms. All 230 polling stations were covered with full video recording were webcasted, wherever connectivity permitted. Facilities were also enabled for the general public of the constituency to watch telecast of the webstream in their TVs through Chennai head-end of Tamilnadu Arasu Cable TV.

After closure of poll, the polled Electronic Voting Machines would be stored in the strong room of the counting centre located in Queen Mary's College, Chennai. The inner perimeter of the counting centre would be guarded by the Central Armed Police Force. The votes will be counted on June 30.

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 has 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.

While Jayalalithaa, who has recently took charge as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, is one of the main contestant in the by-election, the opposition parties including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have boycotted the election. Jayalalithaa's main opponent in the constituency is C Mahendran of Communist Party of India (CPI). In total there were 28 candidates, of which 26 candidates are either contesting from small parties or as independent candidates.

The constituency fell vacant after All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) member P Vetrival resigned as the member of Legislative Assembly, which has been widely said as a move to facilitate Jayalalithaa's re-election to the assembly. Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK Supremo, who was elected from Srirangam in 2011, was disqualified as the member of Legislative Assembly and as the chief minister of the State in September, 2014, after a trial court in Bengaluru convicted her in an 18-year old disproportionate assets case.

The Karnataka High Court upheld her appeal and acquitted her of all charges, which paved way to her to again swear in as the Chief Minister of the State. However, she has to get elected to the assembly within six months from taking the ministership.

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