Other leaders like DMK president M K Stalin and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami made repeated visits to the two constituencies and hit out at the ruling party.— DC Image

Chennai: The stage is set for the bitterly fought by-elections in the two Assembly constituencies of Madurantakam and Dharapuram on Tuesday as the Election Commission has made all arrangements for the peaceful conduct of the polls by putting the police and other official machinery on high alert even as the political parties – five of them have fielded candidates in each of the constituencies – are keeping their fingers crossed waiting for the results.

The aggressive campaign by the TVK, DMK and AIADMK that saw several roadshows, rallies, delivery of highly charged speeches from various platforms also gave rise to complaints of body shaming money distribution and campaigning after the deadline came to a close on Saturday evening setting the mood for polling.

A first of its kind hustings in which two elected candidates, Sathyabama and Maragatham Kumaravel, who caused the by-elections, were also nominated as candidates were the cynosure of all eyes. As the ruling party campaign, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, was aimed at ensuring the re-election of them, the opposition parties – the DMK, the Left parties, the AIADMK and the Naam Tamilar Katchi – were calling for their defeat terming them as betrayers of people’s trust.

It is their victory that would also give a boost to the ruling party that had just completed four months but finds itself in the crossroads due to the explosion of allegations of horse trading and inefficiency from the opposition camp.

The defeat of the ruling party candidates could be portrayed as a setback for the TVK as this is the first by-election the party is facing after assuming power though the outcome would not change the political equations in any way.

So, all the parties worked hard in reaching out to the people. Vijay rode a tractor in the fields, travelled in a bullock cart and also spoke to the common people whom he met in the predominantly rural areas.

Other leaders like DMK president M K Stalin and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami made repeated visits to the two constituencies and hit out at the ruling party.

According to the ECI, polling will be held between 7 am to 6 pm on Tuesday and the restrictions that kicked in with the closure of the campaign would be in force till the end of the poll process.

Since the hectic no holds barred campaign brought party workers from other constituencies to Madurantakam and Dharapuram, the outsiders have been evicted by the authorities who checked on kalyana mandapams, community halls, lodges and guest houses. Vehicle permits given to candidates including star campaigners were also withdrawn

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