TN Urban local body polls: 8.21% polling till 9 a.m.
The Hindu
State Election Commissioner V. Palanikumar said voting was largely peaceful; 17 cases have been filed for cash distribution
Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 8.21% till 9 a.m. in the urban local body polls, and polling in Chennai was expected to pick up in the coming hours, Tamil Nadu State Election Commissioner, V. Palanikumar said.
The turnout in the Corporations was 5.78%, Municipalities 10.32% and Town Panchayats 11.74%, Mr. Palanikumar said.
He said polling was largely peaceful across the State. There were only complaints of around 30-40 EVMs malfunctioning that were set right or replaced, following which polling was continued, he said.
Tokens will be distributed to those in queue at 5 p.m. and polling will close only after all those who had been given token complete their voting.
Mr. Palanikumar said 17 cases had been filed so far for cash distribution to voters. A fine of ₹35 lakh had been imposed for Covid-19 guideline violations.
On an incident of a BJP booth agent in a ward opposing the entry of a woman wearing a hijab and protesting against it, the Commissioner said he had directed the District Collector to take action in the matter. When asked if there were any guidelines on wearing of the hijab to polling booths, he said, “Our country is a secular country. It is laid down in the Constitution itself. The Collector will investigate and give a report.”
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.