Maximum number of 63 candidates in Aravakurichi

After the withdrawal of 15 nominations on the last day of withdrawal, 137 candidates are now in fray for four bypoll seats scheduled for polling on May 19. According to public election department officials, Tiruparankundram will have 37 candidates, including a third gender candidate. Reserved constituency Ottapidaram in Thoothukudi district will have the least number of 15 candidates and Sulur Assembly seat in Coimbatore district will have 22 candidates in the fray.

The high profile Aravakurichi in Karur district, where former AIADMK minister Senthil Balaji is contesting in DMK ticket has received the maximum applications. Tiruparankundram in Madurai district has 37 candidates and seven people withdrew their nominations. The maximum rejections came from Sulur Assembly segment.

Aravakurichi will have four EVM machines with each EVM carrying 16 candidates’ names and will be connected to two parallel control units, poll officials said.

Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo conducted a review meeting with district election officers on bypoll arrangements. CEO instructed the DEOs to enhance the security cover at vulnerable booths and counting stations. 

He also urged the polling officials to ensure 100 per cent distribution of booth slips and keep the EVMs and voter-verified paper audit trail machines ready. A total of 15,678 security personnel, including 13 companies of Central Armed Police Force are deployed.

The top official also reviewed the provisions of uninterrupted power supply and assistance in place for the differently abled voters. Sahoo also directed the officials to ensure webcasting and CCTV coverage in all polling booths and conduct mock polling to ensure that there is no flaw on the day of polling. 

The polling officials also discussed the security and the restrictions that have to be in place during the movement of EVM machines from polling booths to counting stations.