DMK's Kathir Anand wins Vellore Lok Sabha bypoll by over 8,000 votes

The voting in the constituency was countermanded by the Madras High Court due to cash seizures amounting to over Rs 11 crore.

CHENNAI: MK Stalin-led DMK on Friday won the Lok Sabha by-election in Tamil Nadu's Vellore. DMK candidate Kathir Anand defeated AIADMK nominee AC Shanmugham in the bypoll, which was rescinded before the General Elections in May after unaccounted cash was allegedly recovered from an office said to be that of a close associate of Anand.

Kathir Anand, who is the son of senior leader Durai Murugan, won by a margin of 8,141 votes against the AIADMK’s AC Shanmugam. With this win, the DMK has bagged 38 of 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu, while one is with the AIADMK. 

The polling took place on Monday and a total of 28 candidates were in the fray.

The voting in the constituency was earlier countermanded by the Madras High Court due to cash seizures amounting to over Rs 11 crore. The constituency was to go to polls on April 18 but was called off after Rs 10 crore was seized from the possession of DMK leaders in the district. The DMK-led front won 37 of the 38 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu.

The AIADMK campaign was led by Chief Minister EK Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. DMK President MK Stalin led the campaign for Anand.

Here are the live updates:

09 August 2019

17:03 IST

With this win, the DMK has bagged 38 of 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu, while one is with the AIADMK. 

17:01 IST

Kathir Anand, who is the son of senior leader Durai Murugan, has won by a margin of 8,141 votes against the AIADMK’s AC Shanmugam.

17:01 IST

MK Stalin-led DMK has won the Lok Sabha by-election in Tamil Nadu's Vellore. DMK candidate Kathir Anand has defeated AIADMK nominee AC Shanmugham in the bypoll, which was rescinded before the General Elections in May after unaccounted cash was allegedly recovered from an office said to be that of a close associate of Anand.

13:12 IST

AIADMK candidate Shanmugam is trailing by 14,214 votes.

13:10 IST

In a twist of tale, DMK candidate Anand is currently leading after the 11th round of counting.

13:10 IST

In the morning, NDA candidate Shanmugam was leading by 6,000 votes ahead of his DMK rival.