The by-election will take place on 5 February, 2025, allowing voters to cast their ballots. Vote counting will occur on 8 February, 2025, concluding the electoral process and determining the by-election result
Published Jan 18, 2025 | 12:12 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 18, 2025 | 12:12 PM
Erode East by-election: Nomination filing concludes (@narne_kumar06 on X)
The nomination process for the Erode East Assembly constituency by-election, scheduled for 5 February, 2025, concluded on 17 January, 2025. With a total of 66 nominations submitted, the focus now shifts to the scrutiny and subsequent campaigning by the candidates.
Among the notable contenders, VC Chandrakumar from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) filed his nomination, accompanied by Sanjay Sampathy, son of the late EVKS Elangovan, whose passing necessitated the by-election. Chandrakumar aims to carry forward the developmental initiatives of his predecessors.
As an alternative candidate, Chandrakumar’s wife, VC Amudha, also submitted her nomination papers to safeguard against potential technical rejections.
MK Seethalakshmi, representing Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), also filed her nomination. She has requested the Election Commission to allot the “mic” symbol for her campaign. NTK’s Chief Coordinator Seeman is expected to kick off the party’s campaign following the scrutiny of nominations.
Prominent opposition parties, including the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), have chosen to boycott the by-election. These parties have expressed concerns over alleged misuse of government resources and financial influence in the election process.
The Election Commission has released the official schedule for the upcoming by-election, detailing key dates for the electoral process. The scrutiny of nominations will take place on 18 January, 2025, ensuring all submitted candidacies meet the required qualifications. Candidates who wish to withdraw their nominations can do so until the last date, 20 January, 2025.
The polling for the by-election is scheduled to be conducted on 5 February, 2025, allowing voters to exercise their democratic right. Finally, the counting of votes will be held on 8 February, 2025, marking the culmination of the electoral process and determining the outcome of the by-election.
The by-election was announced following the death of sitting Congress MLA EVKS Elangovan on 14 December, 2024. The Erode East constituency, which has approximately 2,27,547 registered voters, holds significant political importance due to its demographic diversity, including voters from Kongu Vellalar and Sengundha Mudhaliyar communities.
According to an article, the Erode East by-election is anticipated to be a direct contest between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK). The DMK has fielded former MLA VC Chandrakumar as its candidate, while the NTK has nominated MK Seethalakshmi, the party’s women’s wing state coordinator.
The same report suggests that notably, major opposition parties such as the AIADMK, BJP, and DMDK have opted not to participate in this by-election, citing concerns over potential misuse of power by the ruling DMK. This absence of significant opposition parties sets the stage for a focused contest between the DMK and NTK candidates.
The filing of nominations for the Erode East Assembly by-election began on 10 January, 2025. On the first day, three independent candidates submitted their nominations.
On 17 January, 2025, the final day for filing nominations, 55 nominations were submitted, bringing the total to 65 nominations filed. This includes the nominations of DMK candidate VC Chandrakumar and NTK candidate MK Seethalakshmi. Notably, Seethalakshmi walked alone to the municipal office to submit her nomination as her party’s request for a procession was denied.
Additionally, some candidates file multiple nominations as a precautionary measure to safeguard their candidacy in case of any technical errors or rejections. This explains the difference between the total number of nominations (66) and the number of candidates (59).
The Election Commission will scrutinise all the nominations to ensure their validity and will release the final list of eligible candidates after the scrutiny and withdrawal period.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
