Moderate turnout in bypolls to TN civic bodies

The bypolls to various urban and rural local bodies, including the corporations of Coimbatore and Tuticorin, in Tamil Nadu witnessed a moderate turnout today.
According to the polling figures released by the State Election Commission, Coimbatore and Tuticorin registered 44.59 per cent and 53.89 per cent voting respectively in the election to the post of Mayor.
Totally, bypolls were held for 530 posts, including that of ward members in urban and rural local bodies and totally 1,486 candidates are in the fray.
DMK and its allies boycotted the polls, leaving the BJP and Left parties to take on the ruling AIADMK.

The electioneering for the polls saw BJP and AIADMK attacking each other with Chief Minister Jayalalithaa flaying the saffron party over Sri Lankan and Cauvery water issues.
Faced with eleventh hour withdrawals of some of its candidates, BJP had accused the AIADMK of intimidating its nominees.
While the municipality of Arakkonam polled 45 per cent, Ramanathapuram registered 53.93 per cent. Cuddalore and Virudhachalam clocked better turnout with 59.62 and 64.73 polling percentage respectively in the contest for the post of chairmen.
The results will be declared on September 22.