The counting of votes for the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly by-elections in Tamil Nadu will be taken up amidst a three-tier security cover.

The crucial by-polls held after the TVK came to power in May is viewed as a test for its popularity while the opposition AIADMK hopes to regain the seats lost to the TVK in the April Assembly elections.

The counting of votes will take place at the LRG Government Arts and Science College, Dharapuram, in Tiruppur district, and the Integrated Social Development Training Centre at Aathur (in Chengalpattu district) for Madurantakam.

Official sources said counting would begin at 8 am, with postal ballots taken up first, followed by votes recorded through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

– PTI

Preparations are complete for the polling exercise to be held today for byelections to Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly Constituencies and the Tamil Nadu voters are poised to decide the fortunes of the fledgling TVK regime which hinges on outside support for its survival.

The hectic campaign by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, DMK President MK Stalin, Leader of Opposition Udhyanidhi Stalin and AIADMK supremo Edappadi K Palaniswami, not seen often during run up to the bypolls, has only underscored the political significance as results are pretty crucial for both the ruling and Opposition camps.

For the TVK, the poll outcome will decide if it can shore-up its strength in the Assembly or not, and as regards the DMK, which did not expect to lose the April Assembly polls, it will be crucial to bounce back. After being pushed to the third spot, the AIADMK has strained every nerve to take back its space.

The bypolls face a tough five-corner fight as the ruling TVK, main opposition DMK, key Dravidian party AIADMK, the Left Front, and Tamil nationalist TVK are in the fray.

– PTI