Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam To Boycott Erode East Bypoll (image: facebook.com//Rayan-Asif)

Chennai, Tamil Nadu: As voters of Erode East are bracing up for another by-poll, actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has also decided to boycott polls stating that ruling DMK government will use “muscle power”. TVK General Secretary N Anand added that they will not give support to any party.

Earlier, AIADMK, DMDK, and BJP-led NDA has announced their decision to boycott polls. This move was in reference to the allegations of malpractice during the 2022 bypoll held in the Erode East constituency.

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“Past history has made us realize that in Tamil Nadu usually ruling government will use full muscle power, without following democratic principles, to win bypoll. Based on this TVK will boycott the Erode (East) bypoll similar to Vikravandi bypoll. Also no support to any party,” ANI quotes as TVK General Secretary is saying.

This marks the second byelection Erode is witnessing in two years. The by election has been announced following the sudden death of Congress MLA and former Union minister E V K S Elangovan. The Erode East constituency was formed after the delimitation in 2008, and has faced three Assembly elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021, and one by-election in 2023.

In 2023, a by election was held after Thirumagan Evera, the son of Elangovan died of heart attack. The Congress has successfully contested Elangovan in the by poll with DMK’s support. With the presence of Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Congress leaders in the campaigns, Elangovan won the seat defeating AIADMK candidate KS Thennarasu by a margin of 66,000 votes.

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This time, the Congress has left the seat to the DMK since family members of Elangovan are not interested in contesting polls. For the DMK leadership, the Erode bypoll is being viewed as an informal indicator to assess public opinion ahead of Assembly elections next year.
However, since two of its major rivals choose to not contest, the DMK will be expected to secure victory even if the election is conducted.

The byelection will take place on February 5 and counting of votes will take place on February 8.