Single phase polling begins in TN

Though there were 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in the State, elections are being held only for 38 seats after the Election Commission (EC), after getting the Presidential assent, rescinded the polling for the Vellore seat following seizure of large amount of cash.

Simultaneous polling also commenced for the 18 of 22 vacant Assembly seats in the state, that would decide the fortunes of the ruling AIADMK, whose stability hinges on the outcome of the polls.

The bypoll for the remaining four seats would be held on May 19. About 5.99 crore electorate--3.02 crore women and 2.95 crore men--will cast their ballots to decide the fate of 822 candidates, including 63 women, in fray for the Lok Sabha seats and 269 candidates, including 27 women, for the 18 Assembly seats.

The polling would continue till 1800 hrs, except in Madurai, where it has been extended till 2000 hrs in view of the annual Chithirai festival.

Polling began in a total of 67,720 booths of which 8,293 were identified as sensitive and vulnerable. Additional para-military forces were deployed in these booths.

The EC has made arrangements for live webcasting of the poll proceedings in about 30,000 booths, including those identified as sensitive and vulnerable.  total of 160 companies of para-military forces were deployed

on security duty across the State along with 1.4 lakh police personnel, drawn from fire, prison, forest departments, home guards NSS volunteers and retired personnel. In Chennai alone, about 15,000 police personnel were drafted for poll duty.

For the first time, Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is being used in all the polling booths, along with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).