Voting for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across 234 constituencies witnessed brisk participation on Friday, with long queues reported at several polling stations and steady turnout observed in both urban and rural areas. The day saw a strong public focus on high-profile voting, as top political leaders, celebrities, and first-time voters turned up in large numbers across Chennai, Salem, Coimbatore, and other districts.
Steady Turnout Across Districts
Polling stations across Tamil Nadu recorded steady voter turnout throughout the day, with many areas reporting long queues. Election Commission data indicated rising participation from morning hours, reaching 56.81 percent by 1 pm. Several districts experienced brisk voting activity in both urban and rural regions.
Top Leaders Cast Early Votes
Chief Minister M K Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, TVK chief Vijay, and senior leaders including P Chidambaram, Kanimozhi, and Anbumani Ramadoss were among the early voters. Stalin urged citizens to participate, stating, "Tamil Nadu will win."
Star Power Dominates Polling Day
Kollywood celebrities added major visibility to the election process. Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Sivakarthikeyan, Ajith Kumar, Suriya, Dhanush, Vikram, Jiiva, Sasikumar, RJ Balaji, Trisha, Anirudh Ravichander, and several others cast their votes across Chennai and other districts. Many actors also encouraged responsible voting and civic participation.
Vijay Flags Delays, Seeks Longer Polling Time
TVK chief Vijay, who is contesting the elections, wrote to the Election Commission seeking an extension of polling hours by two hours, citing long queues and slow voting at several booths across Tamil Nadu. In his letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, he said, "There are reports from polling stations of voters waiting in long queues to cast their votes, but the polling process is slow," and urged intervention to prevent voter inconvenience. He also called for better supervision and the deployment of designated officers to ensure smoother crowd management and more efficient polling, adding that delays could discourage voters from exercising their franchise.
Robot Greets Voters at Vellore Booth
At a polling booth in the Government Muslim Higher Secondary School in Vellore, a robot dressed in traditional Tamil attire was deployed to welcome voters. The initiative drew attention as it greeted citizens arriving to cast their votes, highlighting a tech-driven approach to voter engagement.
Three-Way Political Contest Intensifies
The main contest is between the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, while actor Vijay's TVK is attempting to emerge as a third force in its electoral debut. DMK leader A Raja claimed the alliance could secure over 200 seats, while opposition leaders expressed confidence of a return to power. Over 5.7 crore voters are deciding the fate of more than 4,000 candidates in this closely watched three-way contest.
Polling Logistics and Security
The Election Commission deployed central and state forces, along with EVMs and VVPAT systems, across more than 75,000 polling stations. Special facilities were arranged for elderly voters, first-time voters, and persons with disabilities, with over 3.6 lakh personnel on election duty.
Results on May 4
Polling concluded at 6 pm, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4. The outcome will determine whether the DMK retains power, the AIADMK stages a comeback, or if TVK disrupts the traditional Dravidian political order in Tamil Nadu.
