Tamil Nadu, Bengal bypolls see high turnout; Maduranthakam tops at 86.26%

Bypolls across Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry and Assam recorded strong voter participation on Tuesday, with several constituencies crossing the 80% mark. Maduranthakam in Tamil Nadu registered the highest turnout at 86.26%, according to the latest figures released by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Six seats went to the polls — two Assembly constituencies each in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, one Assembly seat in Puducherry and one Lok Sabha constituency in Assam. Counting of votes is scheduled for October 9, with the entire election process expected to be completed by October 11.

Maduranthakam records highest turnout at 86.26%

Tamil Nadu saw particularly high participation in both constituencies. Maduranthakam recorded 86.26% polling, the highest among all six seats, while Dharapuram registered 80.30% voter turnout.

The Dharapuram Assembly seat became vacant after P Sathyabama resigned from the AIADMK and joined Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Maduranthakam also fell vacant after AIADMK MLA Maragatham Kumaravel resigned from the Assembly and later joined the TVK.

Dharapuram also witnessed a political controversy during the campaign after a video purportedly showing Sathyabama claiming to have spent Rs 31 crore on an election circulated widely.

Sathyabama rejected the claim, saying the video had been distorted and presented out of context. She also expressed confidence about winning one lakh votes in the bypoll.

"The video released about me yesterday was distorted and misrepresented. I did not speak like that," she said, adding that several statements concerning her had been distorted during the election.

AIADMK leader VPB Paramasivam, however, accused Sathyabama of contesting the election for financial gain rather than public service. He alleged that the video showed details of money spent during the election and claimed that her objective was to "play a money game".

Nandigram, Rejinagar cross 80% in West Bengal

West Bengal also recorded heavy voter participation in both constituencies that went to the polls.

Nandigram registered 80.89% turnout, while Rejinagar recorded 80.07%, placing both seats among the highest-polling constituencies in Tuesday's bypolls.

The Nandigram seat fell vacant after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who had won from two constituencies in the state Assembly elections earlier this year, retained Bhabanipur.

Rejinagar became vacant following the resignation of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir, who had also won from Nowda.

The Rejinagar bypoll was also marked by a confrontation involving Kabir, who was detained by Rejinagar Police while polling was in progress. Beldanga Sub-Divisional Police Officer Anandjit Hore said Kabir was taken into custody for allegedly violating the law during the polling process.

Adhikari defended the action, saying election rules applied equally to all political leaders and public representatives. He said security cover did not allow politicians to enter polling booths outside their designated areas or interfere with polling.

He also stressed that election-related complaints should be directed to the Election Commission and its officials, rather than the state government.

Puducherry's Thattanchavady records 80.81%

In Puducherry, Thattanchavady Assembly constituency recorded 80.81% voter turnout, also crossing the 80% mark.

The constituency was among the six seats where bypoll voting was held on Tuesday, with voter participation remaining high across most of the constituencies.

Nagaon records 76.20% turnout in Assam

The Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency in Assam recorded 76.20% polling, the lowest turnout among the six constituencies that voted on Tuesday.

Despite being the lowest figure in the group, turnout in Nagaon still crossed the three-fourths mark, indicating strong participation in the parliamentary bypoll.

The Election Commission has scheduled vote counting for October 9. The complete election process is to be wrapped up by October 11.

With ANI inputs