RK Nagar bypoll: Over 73 percent voter turnout recorded

CHENNAI: Over 73 percent voting was recorded in the Radhakrishnan Nagar (RK Nagar) Assembly bypoll on Thursday.

The high stakes bypoll was conducted after as the RK Nagar Assembly constituency fell vacant after the death of late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa.

The major contenders are AIADMK's E Madhusudhanan, DMK's N Marudhu Ganesh, TTV Dhinakaran -- contesting as an Independent -- and Bharatiya Janata Party's K Nagarajan.

It is seen as an acid test for the ruling AIADMK, as it is the first election since the death of former chief minister Jayalalithaa.

Over two lakh voters are eligible to decide the fate of 59 candidates in one of the smallest constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

The counting of votes will take place on December 24.

Though as many as 59 candidates are in the fray, the bypoll is mainly seen as a fight between the ruling AIADMK, its rival faction led by Dhinakaran and DMK.

The DMK candidate Marudhu Ganesh, seen as a dark horse, is a grassroots level party functionary. DMK also has the support of its allies Congress, IUML, MMK and an array of friendly parties, including the Left, MDMK and VCK.

While veteran ruling party leader and former MLA E Madhusudanan is the AIADMK nominee, Dhinakaran is contesting as an independent for the first time.

The Dhinakaran camp is facing flak for the release of a video clip yesterday, purportedly featuring late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in a hospital bed.

Elaborate security arrangements were made with around 15 companies of para-military forces and over 2,500 security personnel and several closed circuit television cameras, flying squads and static surveillance teams being deployed.

Although the poll was first scheduled to be held in April, it was cancelled due to complaints of large-scale voter bribing by a candidate.