Chennai | Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election commenced at 7 AM on Thursday amidst tight security with people briskly lining up in front of the polling stations across the state.
The key contenders for power are the ruling DMK and main opposition AIADMK, while actor-politician Vijay-led TVK and Tamil nationalist Seeman-led NTK are putting up a determined fight.
AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, veteran Congress leader P Chidambaram, former Telangana governor and BJP candidate Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan and NTK top leader Seeman were among the early voters and they cast their votes in Salem, Sivaganga and Chennai respectively.
Actor Rajinikanth cast his votes at Stella Maris College here. Also, actor-politician and TVK founder Vijay cast his vote at the Vels International School.
Union Minister L Murugan stood in a serpentine queue and cast his vote in Chennai. Similarly, BJP leader Kushbhu along with her filmmaker husband Sundar C voted in the city. Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik voted at Virugambakkam, which falls under Maduravoyal Assembly constituency.
As the state went to polls with fervour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the people to take part enthusiastically in "this sacred duty of democracy." "I urge the youth and the women of Tamil Nadu in particular to come out and vote in record numbers," he said in a post on 'X.'
Union Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to the voters to elect a government that "worked towards the fulfilment of their aspirations, not one that works for the ambitions of its own family." BJP former national president J P Nadda, while asking the TN people to strengthen the democratic process through their participation, said on 'X': "Tamil Nadu is suffering from rampant corruption and violence.
Once a land of sages, it is now facing a cultural identity crisis. I am certain that the people of Tamil Nadu will elect a government that ensures development and culture progress together. Cast your vote and inspire others to do the same."
AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran, actor-politician and MNM founder Kamal Haasan accompanied by his daughter Shruti Haasan, DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth, PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, too exercised their franchise in Chennai. Also, TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai cast his vote.
Tamil Nadu's electorate is 5.73 crore strong, and they will vote in as many as 75,064 polling stations in 33,133 locations to decide the fortunes of 4,023 candidates.
The total electorate comprises 2.93 women, 2.83 crore men, and 7,728 third-gender persons.
The TN Assembly is 234-member strong.
The Election Commission has deployed 1,06,418 ballot units along with 75,064 control units and VVPAT machines.
To prevent any technical delays, a reserve of 20 per cent for EVMs and 30 per cent for VVPATs is being maintained, according to officials. To ensure peaceful polling, 300 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed, alongside 83,875 state police personnel.
Tamil Nadu has 14,59,039 first-time voters and 3,98,513 electors aged 85 and above and many of them had already utilised the home voting facility. Over 3.60 lakh government staff are on polling duty.
For ease of voting, election authorities have said that amenities, including drinking water, toilets, help desk, ramps with proper gradient and volunteer and wheelchair facilities have been provided.
Officials strictly enforced the ban against taking cellphones and smartwatches inside the polling room.
