NOTA loses popularity in Tiruparankundram

On Tuesday counting the number of votes recorded stood at 2,214. It was less by a 1,000 more votes when compared to the Assembly elections held in May 2016 where the total number of votes polled under NOTA was 3,111. Though the number of parties contesting the by-poll was far less compared to the total number of parties during the general election, still the number of votes polled under NOTA has been low this time. Despite jallikattu enthusiasts’ call for boycott of political parties and opt for NOTA, after the Supreme Court ruling on the conduct of the sport, the number of votes under the category shows less support for the call.

All parties including the DMK lost their votes to the AIADMK in the by-polls. In the previous general election, DMK obtained 70,461 votes, but in the by-poll it got 70,363 votes. Similarly, the BJP which polled 7,698 votes in the general election had got only 6,930 votes in the November by-poll. AIADMK has benefited at their expense. In the general election AIADMK had obtained only 93,453 votes but now it has polled 1,13,032 votes which is close to 20,000 votes more.