Srirangam bye-election see tentative polling of 82.54%

The seat fell vacant after the former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who won from the constituency was disqualified

Polling in the by-election for the Srirangam Assembly Constituency to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly concluded peacefully, recording a tentative poll percentage of 82.54 per cent, said the Chief Electoral Officer, Tamil Nadu.

The poll, which started at 7 am, went on till around 6 pm and was monitored in the CEO's office as well as District Election office in Tiruchirappalli through the respective control rooms.

The seat fell vacant after former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was disqualified following her conviction in a disproportionate asset case and was sentenced for four years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs 100 crore.

"The tentative poll percentage for the above by-election is 82.54%. This is only a tentative figure and the final figure would be known on examination of documents received from the polling stations," said a press release issued by the Chief Electoral Officer Sandeep Saxena.

All 322 polling stations were covered with full video recording and most of these were webcasted, wherever connectivity permitted to do so. Arrangements were also made for the general public of Srirangam Assembly Constituency to witness the telecast of this webstream through Tiruchi head-end of Tamilnadu Arasu Cable TV.

The bye-election saw around 29 candidates, including from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) and 22 independent candidates. Congress did not field any candidate for the bye-election.

After closure of poll, the polled EVMs would be stored in the strong room of the counting centre located in Saranathan College of Engineering, Tiruchirappalli District. The inner perimeter of the counting centre would be guarded by the Central Armed Police Force.

The scrutiny of 17A Register and other connected documents will be done by the Observer and Returning Officer at 11.00 a.m. on February 14. The counting of the votes would be held on February 16, Monday.