Bypoll contests: Repoll clamour in Bengal, acid test in Tamil Nadu

Bypolls are underway in two Tamil Nadu constituencies as of 11 a.m.: Madurantakam in Chengalpattu district and Dharapuram in Tiruppur district. The Madurantakam constituency witnessed a voter turnout of 35.55%, while Dharapuram saw 37.28% voting. The process has been smooth with the exception of isolated incidents.

In Dharapuram, polling was momentarily halted at booth 137 as a 75-year-old voter alleged that she was coerced by a polling staff member to vote for the ruling TVK. The DMK agents protested, and the situation was resolved after police intervention. The booth's presiding officer, Rajeshwari, denied making any such request.

Technical issues cropped up in Madurantakam as well. At booth 26 in Sithandi, the control unit needed to be replaced twice, while booth 55 in L. Endathur saw a ballot unit change after some agents objected to a mark on a candidate's name. Chengalpattu Collector M. Veerappan reported that the elections are progressing peacefully.

To ensure security, a CAPF unit has been deployed at each of the 58 high-risk polling stations. Micro observers are also present at all stations, and CCTV cameras are streaming the proceedings to the control room.