81.74% turnout during repoll at a booth (picture)
As many as 81.74 % turnout was recorded during the repolling held at polling station number 248 located at the Panchayat Union Elementary School at Thirumangalam in Kangayam Assembly segment in the Erode Lok Sabha constituency here on Sunday.
Mock poll was conducted by officials in the presence of booth agents and the polled votes in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were cleared and kept ready for polling that began at 7 a.m. The repolling was brisk through out the day as of the total 920 electors, 752 turned up to cast their vote.
AIADMK candidate G. Manimaran, who inspected the polling process, told the Presiding Officer that he had received complaints that election officials are casting votes for “Rising Sun” when elderly people sought help to cast their votes. However, the officer responded that they were not involved in such acts. DMK candidate A. Ganeshamurthi inspected the polling station and told media persons that repolling is being held peacefully and added that officials are carrying out their work without bias. Another candidate, K.C. Senthilkumar of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam also inspected the polling station.
Tiruppur Collector and District Election Officer K.S. Palanisamy, who inspected the polling station, told reporters that repolling was held peacefully and added that any issues raised by candidates or electors can be taken up with the Assistant Returning Officer or the Presiding Officer.
A 175-member police team led by Tiruppur Additional Superintendent of Police Murugasamy and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel was posted for security to prevent untoward incidents. After the polling ended at 6 p.m., EVMs and VVPATs were taken to the Institute of Road and Transport Technology (IRTT) at Chithode and kept at the strong room.
