Erode East by-election: High voltage campaign ends

COIMBATORE: Political parties wrapped up their campaigns in Erode East assembly constituency on Saturday evening. The voting will be held on Monday (February 27).

As the campaign drew to an end by 5 pm, multiple teams of police carried out searches in lodges and marriage halls to check if any outsiders were staying.

The election commission has mandated outsiders to leave the constituency and insisted political parties vacate the election working offices in view of the code of conduct. Security has also been stepped up across the constituency.

Meanwhile, on the final day of the campaign, Chief Minister MK Stalin made his maiden tour around the city seeking votes for Congress candidate EVKS Elangovan. Over the last few weeks, several DMK ministers and Congress leaders were on the streets to campaign for him.

AIADMK interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, who led the opposition front, also ended his second round of campaign on Saturday by continuing his tirade against the ruling DMK.

Earlier in the day, the Chennimalai police arrested environmental activist T Mugilan and two others for planning to show a black flag to Chief Minister during his campaign. Mugilan announced the demonstration as the police denied him permission to submit a petition to the Chief Minister to prevent attacks on activists fighting to protect natural resources in the state.