Returning Officer and Corporation Commissioner handing over the certificate of election to DMK’s V.C. Chandhirakumar after registering a victory in the byelection to the Erode (East) Assembly constituency in Erode in Tamil Nadu on February 8, 2025.
| Photo Credit: M. Govarthan
The DMK’s V.C. Chandhirakumar registered a landslide victory in the byelection for the Erode (East) Assembly constituency, winning by a margin of 91,558 votes.
At the end of the 20th round of counting at the Government College of Engineering, Chithode, he secured 1,15,709 votes, while Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) candidate M.K. Seethalakshmi secured 24,151 votes. All 45 candidates, including the NTK candidate, who contested against the DMK candidate, forfeited their deposits. Of the 1,54,890 votes counted, the DMK secured 74.75%, and NTK secured 15.59%. NOTA, with 6,109 votes (3.94%), finished in third place.
Also read: Erode (East) bypoll 2025 | Tension at counting hall over occupying seat in the front
Mr. Chandhirakumar established an early lead from the first round and widened his margin in all subsequent rounds. Addressing the media after his victory, he declared, “This is not just a win in the Erode East constituency, but proof of the fact that we will be successful in the 2026 Assembly elections.” Crediting the triumph to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, and Minister S. Muthusamy, he emphasised the ‘Erode formula’—which involves door-to-door voter engagement—secured the win.
DMK workers celebrate
DMK workers celebrating outside the counting centre in Chithode
| Photo Credit:
M. Govarthan
Earlier in the day, the counting of postal ballots began at 8 a.m., followed by the counting of votes polled in electronic voting machines at 8:30 a.m. The process took place in the presence of District Election Officer and Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara, General Observer Ajay Kumar Gupta, and Returning Officer and Corporation Commissioner H.S. Srikanth. The result of the first round was declared at 10:15 a.m., while the final 20th-round result was announced at 7 p.m. Votes were counted at 14 tables by 51 counting staff, under the supervision of a micro-observer. Three control units developed snags, and the symbols recorded in the VVPATs were counted and declared in rounds 18 to 20.
Ms. Seethalakshmi told the media that the results were not a setback compared to the previous byelection, as the party had secured more votes this time. “The DMK won due to alleged electoral malpractice, and they will definitely face a setback in the 2026 Assembly election,” she claimed, asserting that DMK votes had shifted to NTK. She further stated that party chief coordinator Seeman’s criticism of Periyar had not reduced their votes but had instead helped them gain support among the people.
The byelection was necessitated by the death of Congress legislator E.V.K.S. Elangovan on December 14, 2024, and was conducted without any major incidents.
Published – February 08, 2025 09:15 am IST
