Chennai: A man who cast his vote from booth number 43 in Ottapidaram constituency, collapsed to his death, just moments after casting his vote.

Madasamy,60, had just cast his vote and had stepped out. Soon after, Madasamy collapsed and lost his life.

Around 47 percent of the electorate had cast their votes in the by-polls to four Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu on Sunday till 1 PM, a senior official said.

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According to the available statistics for the voter turnout at 1 PM, the four constituencies-- Sulur, Aravakurichi, Ottapidaram (SC) and Thirupparankundram, had recorded a total voting percentage of 47.86 per cent, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Satyabrata Sahoo told reporters.

Aravakurichi topped the list with a turnout of 52.68 per cent, he said. Meanwhile, AIADMK leader and Transport Minister M R Vijayabaskar alleged that the opposition DMK was luring voters by promising money.

When asked about this, Sahoo said no such formal complaint has been received so far and promised to look into it if a plaint was made. Brisk polling was also witnessed in the 13 polling booths where polling was ordered for different reasons, including alleged irregularities and technical issues.

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These stations recorded 51.12 per cent voting till 1 PM, Sahoo said. While by-polls to 18 of the total 22 vacant assembly seats were held on April 8, the rest see by-polls on Sunday (May 19). 

The outcome of the by-polls will decide the future of the K Palaniswami government as the ruling AIADMK would require a significant number of seats to remain in power. It has a strength of 113 minus the Speaker in the 234-member house with 22 vacancies.  

The simple majority in the full house is 117.