Voting in RK Nagar Assembly constituency, which was left empty after the death of the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa, has begun.Chennai City Police Commissioner AK Viswanathan said they had assured to conduct a fair election and have expanded additional forces to maintain peace and harmony.

Bypoll elections for esteemed RK Nagar constituency will be held today.In Tamil Nadu, campaigning for the high-stakes bypoll came to an end yesterday.Counting of votes will be held on December 24.The bypoll necessitated as the constituency fell vacant after the death of AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa in last December.The bypoll was earlier scheduled for April 12 earlier this year but was cancelled following allegations that sums of money were distributed in a vote-for-cash scam.

"We will ensure free and fair elections, today. We have deployed extra forces," Viswanathan said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Karu Nagarajan and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) nominee N Marudhu Ganesh have also cast their votes.Ganesh expressed confidence of sweeping the polls and said, "Whether it is Rs 6000 or Rs 60,000, we are going to win. The voters of RK Nagar will teach a lesson to AIADMK this time."Counting of votes will be held on December 24.The by-polls were earlier scheduled for April 12 earlier this year, but were cancelled following allegations that sums of money were distributed in a vote-for-cash scam