TN Elections: Voting Concludes, Turnout at 71.79% Till 7pm
Catch all the live updates from the polling in Tamil Nadu elections here.
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After days of fierce campaigning by the BJP-backed AIADMK and the DMK-led Opposition, voting concluded in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election on Tuesday, 6 April. A turnout of 71.79 percent was recorded till 7pm.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has issued notice to DMK leader Udayanithi Stalin over his statement that “Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj died unable to tolerate pressure and torture by PM Narendra Modi”. They have asked him to explain his statement by 5 pm on Wednesday, 7 April.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has also filed a complaint against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's (DMK) Udhayanidhi Stalin, alleging poll code violation for wearing a shirt with a party logo. EC officials have noted it was a grey area since the logo on his shirt represented the youth wing symbol and does not match exactly with the party's logo.
- Tamil Nadu reported 71.79% voter turnout till 7 pm
- AIADMK has lodged a complaint against DMK’s Udhayanidhi Stalin alleging poll code violation for wearing a shirt with a party logo
- MNM chief Kamal Haasan has lodged a complaint with the Returning Officer (RO) alleging that money is being distributed to voters of Kempatti colony
- A crowd of around 50 people mobbed the car of DMK Thondamuthur candidate Karthikeya Sivasenapathy, just hours after polling started in Tamil Nadu
- Fourteen people traveling from Tamil Nadu to Kerala’s Idukki were taken into custody after the BJP alleged that they were brought to cast bogus votes in the Assembly polls
- Along with high-profile candidates like Edappadi Palaniswami, O Panneerselvam, MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin, TTV Dhinakaran, and Kamal Haasan in the fray, BJP’s Khushbu Sundar and K Annamalai, and DMK’s Elango are a few candidates to watch out for
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Smaller Parties Likely to Be Dark Horses
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and the alliance between TTV Dhinakaran's Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) and Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) can emerge as dark horses in the polls.
Udayanidhi Stalin's Political Debut
Making his debut in politics is Udhayanidhi Stalin, Kollywood actor, son of DMK President MK Stalin, and party youth wing secretary.
He is contesting from Chepauk-Thiruvellikeni where his grandfather Kalaignar Karunanidhi had contested from and won for three terms (1996- 2011), before he shifted to Thiruvarur.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls: PM Modi Exhorts People to Vote
Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls: Kamal Haasan Arrives to Vote
Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan, his daughters Shruti Haasan and Akshara Haasan stand in a queue as they await their turn to cast their vote at Chennai High School, Teynampet in Chennai.
Tamil Nadu Polls: Rajinikanth Casts Vote in Thousand Lights Constituency
Rajinikanth casts vote at a polling booth in Stella Maris of Thousand Lights constituency.
Tamil Nadu Polls: Kamal Haasan Casts Vote
Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan casts his vote at Chennai High School, Teynampet in Chennai.
Tamil Nadu Elections: Chidambaram Casts His Vote
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram cast his vote at Chittal Achi Memorial High School in Kandanur, Sivaganga district on Tuesday.
"Our secular progressive alliance is all set for a landslide victory as people of Tamil Nadu want a change," he said, according to ANI.
MK Stalin, Son Udhayanidhi Arrive to Vote in Chennai
DMK chief MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin arrive to vote at SIET College, Chennai.
Prior to going to the polling station, they had visited the Anna and Karunanidhi memorial at Marina Beach as well as M Karunanidhi's Gopalapuram residence.
MK Stalin, Son Cast Votes at Siet College in Chennai
DMK President MK Stalin cast his vote at Siet College, Teynampet.
“We exercised our democratic right to vote. I hear that people are coming out in large numbers to vote in a calm manner. We are sure of a good result on 2 May. We are aware that people’s vote is in opposition to AIADMK,” he said after voting.
MK Stalin is the son of former chief minister late M Karunanidhi and has been the head of the DMK youth wing, mayor of Chennai, deputy chief minister and opposition leader in the past. Struggling to fit into the gigantic shoes of his late father, MK Stalin is heading into a make-or-break election that could impact the politics of Tamil Nadu for the foreseeable future.
India is Counting on You: Rahul Gandhi Appeals to People to Vote
TN Polls: Sasikala May Not Be Able To Cast Her Vote
Former AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala may not be able to cast her vote on Tuesday as the State Election Commission (SEC) is yet to issue her a voter identity card.
According to reports, Sasikala’s voter ID had Poes Garden in Chennai as her residence address. However, after being arrested in the disproportionate assets case in 2017, the government had taken over the building, thereby deleting the voters in that address. Though Sasikala had filed a plea with the SEC in this regard, she is yet to be enlisted in the voters list, reported Puthiya Thalaimurai.
The Significance of Udhayanidhi Stalin
Making his debut in politics is Udhayanidhi Stalin, Kollywood actor, son of DMK President MK Stalin and party youth wing secretary.
He is contesting from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni, where his grandfather Kalaignar Karunanidhi had contested from and won for three terms (1996- 2011), before he shifted to Thiruvarur. Udhayanidhi will face Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) candidate AVA Kasali.
Should he win, it will cement the entry of the third generation of the Kalaignar family into electoral politics in the Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls: Issues With EVMs at Several Places
Issues with EVMs have been reported at various places, including Avinashi, Tiruppur and Perambalur, in Tamil Nadu, reports The News Minute.
TN Assembly Polls: O Panneerselvam Casts Vote in Theni
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and coordinator of AIADMK O Panneerselvam has cast his vote in Theni on Tuesday.
Panneerselvam was close to late Jayalalithaa and had stepped in as the CM when she was unwell and unable to head the government. He is contesting from Bodinayakanur constituency in Theni. The leader is expecting a landslide victory as he has not lost the seat since 2011.
Interestingly, he is pitted against DMK’s Thanga Tamilselvan, who was also once a trusted aide of Jayalalithaa.
All-Women Polling Booths in the Nilgiris
In the Nilgiris, two all women-polling booths have been set up.
The two polling booths are at St Joseph's College of Education and the Gel Memorial Girls Higher Secondary School in Udhagamandalam, with polling officers, presiding officers and security personnel who are women.
TN Assembly Polls: Actor Vijay Rides Cycle to Polling Station
Actor Vijay on Tuesday arrived at the Neelangarai polling station riding a cycle. According to reports and the most popular theory, Vijay came on a bicycle to protest against the rising prices of diesel and petrol.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls: 13.8% Voter Turnout Till 9 am
Tamil Nadu on Tuesday reported 13.8 percent voter turnout as of 9 am, with 20.23 percent in Dindigul and 10.58 percent in Chennai.
Vanathi Srinivasan Casts Vote in Coimbatore
BJP's Coimbatore South candidate and national president of women's wing Vanathi Srinivasan on Tuesday cast her vote in Coimbatore.
Tamil Nadu Polls: Karti Chidambaram Casts Vote
Congress leader Karti Chidambaram on Tuesday cast his vote at polling booth number 276 in Tiruppathur, Sivaganga district.
Tamil Nadu Polls: Actor Ajith, Wife Shalini Cast Votes
Actor Ajith and his wife Shalini stood in a queue outside a polling booth in Thiruvanmiyur as early as 6.40 am to cast their votes, reports The News Minute.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls: CM Palaniswami Casts Vote
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday cast his vote at a polling station in Siluvampalayam, Edappadi.
“I appeal to all to cast their vote in the legislative assembly elections,” he said.
TN Assembly Polls: 26.29% Voter Turnout Till 11 am
Namakkal has seen the highest turnout so far, with 28.33 percent, followed by Dindigul at 27.55 percent and Tirunelveli 20.98 percent. Meanwhile, Chennai has clocked 23.67 percent turnout.
'Prime Duty Done': Khushbu Sundar Casts Vote
BJP candidate from Chennai’s Thousand Lights Assembly constituency Khushbu Sundar cast her vote on Tuesday.
MDMK Chief Vaiko Casts Vote at Kalingapatti
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) Chief Vaiko casts his vote at Kalingapatti.
DMK's Karthikeya Sivasenapathy's Car Mobbed by Crowd
On Tuesday, a crowd of around 50 members mobbed the car of DMK Thondamuthur candidate Karthikeya Sivasenapathy was in, just hours after polling started in Tamil Nadu, reports The News Minute.
They shouted slogans against the DMK and blocked the movement of the car by falling on the vehicle and banging on the window panes. The incident happened near the Selvapuram booth, and they swarmed the car despite police security.
The DMK members alleged that the protest was conducted by AIADMK supporters and have filed a complaint with the Election Commission.
Haasan Alleges Distribution of Cash to Voters in Coimbatore South
MNM chief Kamal Haasan has lodged a complaint with the Returning Officer (RO) alleging that money is being distributed to voters of Kempatti colony in the Coimbatore South constituency where he is contesting from.
He spoke in detail regarding this to the officials and they informed him that they have forwarded the same to the concerned authority.
39.61% Voter Turnout Till 1 pm
BJP Alleges Attempt at Bogus Voting
Fourteen people travelling from Tamil Nadu to Kerala’s Idukki were taken into custody after the BJP alleged that they were brought to cast bogus votes in the Assembly polls taking place on Tuesday. The two vehicles in which the 14 were travelling were blocked by local BJP leaders at Nedumkandam, reports The News Minute.
The travellers, however, said that they had come to Kerala to attend a funeral. They are currently in police custody.
AIADMK Lodges Complaint Against DMK’s Udhayanidhi Stalin
Noting the alleged violation of election code of conduct by Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK’s Babu Murugavel lodged a complaint with the EC on Tuesday and asked for immediate action against the DMK candidate, including a 48-hour ban on campaigning.
AIADMK has alleged that Stalin, on his way to cast his vote to a polling booth in Women’s College in Mylapore constituency, wore a shirt which had the sun with the DMK's flag on it. AIADMK called the act a “blatant violation of electoral conduct”.
Even though the DMK has not responded yet, EC officials have noted that this was a grey area since the logo on Stalin’s shirt represents the youth wing's symbol and is not the exact party logo.
53.35% Voter Turnout Till 3 pm
While Namakkal has recorded the highest turnout at 59.73 percent, Tirunelveli reports the lowest at 41.5 percent. Chennai, on the other hand, has shown a turnout of 46.46 percent.
Voter Turnout 63.6% Till 5 pm
DMK's Kanimozhi Arrives To Vote
DMK's Kanimozhi Karunanidhi in a PPE suit reaches a voting centre by an ambulance to cast her vote as she had tested COVID positive.
Voter Turnout 71.79% Till 7 pm
Tamil Nadu's Voting Percentage Over The Years
- 2021- 71.79% (provisional)
- 2016 - 74.81%
- 2011 - 78.01 %
- 2006 - 70.82%
- 2001 - 59.01%