With the campaign of various political parties and independent candidates ending on Tuesday evening, the Election Commission is all set to hold the polling for the Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency on December 21. The counting of votes is scheduled for December 24.
Special Officer Vikram Batra, who was sent by the Election Commission to coordinate all election-related activities in the constituency, left for Delhi on Tuesday afternoon.
Like in April (when the bypoll to the constituency was scheduled but rescinded), political parties have accused one another of attempting to bribe voters this time as well.
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While the ruling AIADMK is seeking to retain the seat held by its late leader and former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the DMK is looking to capitalise on the political situation in the State.
T.T.V. Dhinakaran, the nephew of imprisoned party leader V.K. Sasikala, is also in the fray.
The constituency has witnessed high-profile campaign by AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam, co-coordinator and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and DMK working president M.K. Stalin for their respective party candidates.
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According to the Election Commission, over 1,600 police personnel, about 950 paramilitary personnel from 15 companies, 1,500 officials and 500 persons on other duty, including 22 officers belonging to the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police Service and the Indian Revenue Service, along with eight observers sent by the Election Commission, are involved in election-related activities.
According to an official, a total of 225 cameras have been installed in ‘sensitive’ streets of the constituency, apart from 256 cameras in various polling booths.