Wed Feb 05 04:08:37 UTC 2025: ## Erode By-election Sees Strong Turnout Despite Boycott
**Erode, Tamil Nadu, February 5, 2025** – The Erode (East) Assembly constituency by-election, held today, has seen a strong voter turnout despite a boycott by major political parties. As of 1 p.m., 42.41% of the 227,546 eligible voters had cast their ballots.
The by-election, necessitated by the death of Congress legislator E.V.K.S. Elangovan in December 2024, is a contest primarily between the DMK and the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), after the AIADMK and BJP boycotted the election. A total of 46 candidates are contesting.
Polling is taking place across 237 polling stations, with heightened security at nine identified as vulnerable. Over 1,500 police personnel and three companies of CISF are deployed to ensure a smooth and secure process. All polling stations are being webcast, and 237 micro-observers are monitoring the proceedings. Voting continues until 6 p.m., with vote counting scheduled for February 8th at the Government College of Engineering, Chithode. The District Election Officer has clarified that voters without an EPIC can use one of 12 alternative identification documents.
First Piper 