Erode East by-election on Feb 5

Chennai:By-election to the Erode East Assembly constituency that fell vacant due to the demise of Congress leader E V K S Elangovan on December 14 would be held on February 5 and the votes would be counted on February 8, the Election Commission of India announced today.

While the local Congress leaders were in favour of fielding Elangovan’s other son Sanjay Sampath for the by-election as the nominee of the DMK-led alliance, it is not clear if the rival AIADMK that had nominated candidates against Tamilmagan Evera in the 2021 general election and for the by-election in 2023 against Elangovan, is pitting its candidate.

It is learnt that the BJP is keen on having its nominee fight the by-election since the AIADMK did not give up the seat in the earlier by-election when those two parties were in an alliance. If it fields one now with the AIADMK keeping out of the race, it could mark the beginning of the renewal of the alliance broken by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in September 2023.

For the DMK, which treated the earlier by-election very seriously and ensured Elangovan’s victory, this election too is crucial as it cannot afford to lose the fight, perhaps the last one to come up before the Assembly elections in 2026.

So, a hectic electioneering is expected as both the AIADMK and BJP have vowed to bring down the DMK government in 2026 and might treat it as a forerunner to the general elections by embarking on a high wattage campaign, bringing in latest issues like the rape inside the Anna University campus as poll planks.

Other parties like the Naam Tamilar Katchi of Seeman may also try their luck in the polls that will be not only inconsequential electorally but also choose a candidate for a truncated term lasting just over a year in office.

Since the DMK has been denigrated by the opposition camp by even levelling allegations that the ruling party has lost its popularity among the people, it will be under pressure to prove that it continues to be the favourite party of the people.

For the Congress, too, it is a prestigious seat as Elangovan was a former Union Minister and TNCC president and cannot afford to lose it in the quest for his successor.

If the AIADMK backs out of the race, the BJP will definitely be giving a big fight to the Congress candidate by mobilizing all its resources and by embarking on an acrimonious campaign against the ruling party.

The notification for the by-election would be issued on January 10 and the last day for nominations would be January 17, the ECI said. Scrutiny will be on January 18 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations will be January 20