Erode East by-poll: Five EVMs to be kept in every polling booth

CHENNAI: With the number of candidates contesting for Erode East Constituency gauged to 77, five Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would be kept in every booth in the by-poll scheduled for February 27.

Since the election commission has mandated one machine will not have more than 16 candidates, five EVMs will be kept in a booth. But there will just be one Control Unit (CU) connected to all the machines. One CU can be connected to 24 EVMs at a time.

During the stipulated period (January 31 to February 7) to file nominations, 96 candidates filed 121 nominations, out of which 83 were approved. Of the 83 candidates permitted to fight polls, six, including AMMK candidate Siva Prashanth, withdrew their nominations.

The candidatures were scrutinised by General Observer Raj Kumar Yadav and Returning Officer K Sivakumar.

Earlier in the day, the Central paramilitary forces arrived in the Erode East constituency, where the by-election is set to be held on February 27, according to reports.

Meanwhile, Erode District Election Officer H Krishnanunni on Saturday stated that Election officials and police personnel seized tokens from DMK South Union Treasurer Sarbudeen’s car in Tirupur district after they got information about the distribution of money at night through tokens during the election campaign.

The bypoll was being held following the death of Congress MLA Thirumahan Everra last month.