70 pc polling in Madurai bypoll

An estimated 70 per cent of 1.32 lakh voters exercised their franchise on Wednesday in the bye-election to Madurai Central assembly constituency.

Necessitated by the death of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P T R Palanivel Rajan, the bypoll is considered a test for ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led front, which assumed office five months ago.

The main candidates are DMK's Ghouse Basha and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's Rajan Chellappa.

The polling, which passed off peacefully, was closely monitored by three Election Commission observers, R K Meena, Mahi and Sanjiv Kumar, besides District Collector T Udhayachandran while about 3000 strong police force kept vigil through the day.

Meena told reporters that the polling was peaceful throughout the constituency. Meanwhile, an AIADMK district executive committee member, Mahendran, was found dead with injuries behind his neck, at Athikulam early in the morning, police said.