Tiruppur, Oct. 6 -- AIADMK candidate Bhanumathi and TVK candidate P Sathyabama cast their votes in the Dharapuram Assembly by-election on Tuesday, with both candidates expressing confidence in their respective prospects.

Bhanumathi said voters had been turning out enthusiastically since morning, particularly in rural areas, and praised the Election Commission for making arrangements for the polling.

Voting began early this day for by-elections to five Assembly seats across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, along with a Lok Sabha seat in Assam.

Speaking to ANI, Bhanumathi said, "People have been voting enthusiastically since morning. In the rural areas especially, people have been coming out and casting their votes with enthusiasm...