Polling has begun for single phase assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The voting began at 7 this morning in all poll-bound states and will continue till 7pm. Voting turnout in Tamil Nadu till 9 am was 13.8 percent.
In Tamil Nadu, 3,998 candidates including 411 women and two third gender persons are in the fray for the 234 Assembly seats spread over 37 districts. There are two major alliances – the ruling AIADMK-BJP alliance and the coalition of the DMK and Congress.
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) and the newly-forged alliance between TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) and Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) are also in the fray.
In Puducherry, 324 candidates including 35 women are in the fray for 30 seats. Over 10.04 lakh voters, 5.31 lakh women and 116 third gender persons will exercise their franchise.Voting turnout in Puducherry till 9 am was 15.12 per cent.
Election Commission has made an arrangement with UBER to transport the elderly free of cost to cast their vote in Chennai Coimbatore and Tiruchy. Covid positive people can vote from 6 pm to 7 pm today exclusively