{
  "id": 12320282,
  "title": "Tamil Nadu bypolls: Madurantakam and Dharapuram record 35.55% and 37.28% polling as of 11 a.m.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/tamil-nadu-bypolls-madurantakam-and-dharapuram-record-35-55-and-37-28",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T06:48:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-bypolls-madurantakam-dharapuram-voting-percentage-turnout/article71550240.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nIn 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.\n\nTechnical 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.",
  "summary": "Polling was halted in a booth in Dharapuram; technical glitches in EVMs were reported at two polling stations in Madurantakam",
  "key_points": [
    "Madurantakam constituency in Tamil Nadu reports 35.55% voter turnout.",
    "Dharapuram constituency in Tamil Nadu reports 37.28% voter turnout.",
    "Minor incidents and technical issues reported during bypolls."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The relatively low voter turnout at this early stage may indicate a slow-paced election, while isolated incidents and technical issues at some booths may impact the voting process.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}