The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that the bye-election for the Vikravandi Assembly constituency will be held on July 10. This bypoll has been necessitated by the death of DMK legislator N Pugazhendi. Vikravandi is among 13 constituencies in seven states that will go to bypolls on that day.
According to the ECI notification, the schedule for the bye-election is as follows:
Last date for filing nominations: June 21
Scrutiny of nominations: June 24
Last date for withdrawal of nominations: June 26
Polling day: July 10
Counting of votes: July 13
Vikravandi is the third Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu to witness a bypoll since the last general election to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 2021. The previous bypolls were held in the Erode East and Vilavancode constituencies.
The Erode East bypoll was held following the death of Congress MLA E Thirumahan Everaa on January 4, 2023. In that by-election, his father and senior Congress leader EVKS Elangovan emerged victorious.
In Vilavancode, a bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of Congress MLA S Vijayadharini, who left her post and the party to join the BJP. The bypoll, held alongside the Parliament elections, saw Tharahai Cuthbert of the Congress defeat her nearest rival, VS Nanthini of the BJP, by a comfortable margin.
The upcoming bypoll in Vikravandi is expected to be closely watched, as it will serve as a significant political event in the state following the recent Lok Sabha elections.