Chennai, Feb 8 (Reporter) In a one-horse race, the ruling DMK candidate V C Chandrakumar won the Erode East Assembly constituency seat by a thumping margin of over 90,000 votes, as the counting of votes polled in the February 5 by-elections, was taken up on Saturday. The Election Commission of India (ECI) official announced this evening that at the end of the 20th and final round of counting, Chandrakumar secured 1,15,709 votes over his only political rival Ms M K Seethalakshmi of Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), who secured 24,151 votes and forfeited her deposit, finishing a distant second. Mr Chandrakumar was declared winner by a margin of 91,558 votes. In all 46 candidates contested in the bypoll, the second in this constituency in two years, and all except Chandrakumar, lost their deposits as DMK secured a landslide win. The third highest votes polled was for NOTA. A total of 6,109 voters opted for NOTA (None Of The Above). This is the second win for Chandrakumar from this seat and the first under DMK ticket. He had earlier won in 2011 as a candidate of the actor-Vijayakanth-led DMDK, by a margin of 10,644 votes, in the first election when the Constituency came into being after delimitation. In the next elections Chandrakumar contesting after joining the DMK, lost to AIADMK's K S Thennarasu who won by a margin of 7,794 votes. In the 2021 Assembly elections Congress candidate Thirumahan E.Ve.Raa won his maiden electorate battle by a margin of 8,904 votes and in the 2023 bypoll held due to his death, his father and former Union Minister EVKS Elangovan contested and won the seat by a highest margin of 66,233 votes respectively. And in this by-election held following the death of Mr Elangovan, the victory margin was a record high as Chandrakumar won by a margin of 91,558 votes. With the major political parties, including the main Opposition AIADMK, its ally, the DMDK, the BJP-Led NDA and its allies, including the PMK and the nascent Tamilar Vettri Kazhagam of Kollywood actor Vijay, boycotting the polls, the outcome of the bypoll was a foregone conclusion. Having established a big lead, which kept swelling with every round of counting, Chandrakumar, who was the clear favourite to win the bypoll, led from start to finish and won by the highest margin ever, the Constituency witnessed in the five elections held so far. Talking to reporters after the win, Mr Chandrakumar said he was dedicating this victory to DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin. This victory is not only a victory in Erode East, but is a prelude to the 2026 Asembly polls, in which the DMK will win by a massive mandate and retain power for a second successive term, he said. He also thanked State Minister S Muthusamy and other Ministers, who campaigned for him in the bypoll, and to the DMK's alliance party leaders for their support. Earlier, with Mr Chandrakumar assured of a landslide victory, DMK cadres, carrying party flags, in the constituency celebrated it by bursting crackers, distributing sweets and dancing to the beating of drums. It was celebration time at the DMK headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam' in Chennai, also where enthusiastic party cadres burst crackers and distributed sweets to celebrate the bypoll success. In all 67.97 per cent of the total 2.27 lakh voters have exercised their democratic right during polling in 237 booths in the constituency on Wednesday. In all 46 candidates contested in the bypoll, the second in this constituency in two years. Though there are 46 candidates in the fray despite major political parties staying away from the contest, the main fight was between ruling DMK's V C Chandrakumar and M K Seethalakshi of the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) of actor-director Seeman. DMK Assistant Propaganda Secretary V C Chandrakumar, who had joined the party in 2016 after quitting the actor-politician Vijayakanth-led DMDK, and NTK candidate, Ms Seethalakshmi, also the party's Women's Wing Coordinator, were the main candidates, while the rest were Independents...////...