Polling Begins In TN Urban LB Polls
Chennai, Feb 19: An estimated 2.79 crore voters are expected to exercise their democratic right as the polling in the ordinary elections for the Urban Local bodies in Tamil Nadu began at 0700hrs on Saturday morning, amid tight security. Polling is being held in more than 30,000 booths across the state and the TN State Election Commission has made elaborate security arrangements to ensure peaceful polling.
Telangana Governor and Puducherry Lt.Governor Ms Tamilisai Soundararajan, Ministers, actor Vijay and BJP leader and actor Kushboo are among the early voters. SEC sources said, barring some minor glitches in EVMs in some centres, the polling process was going on smoothly and peacefully across the state. More than 1.33 lakh officials are involved in the election duty.
Over 2.79 crore voters, including 1.42 crore women, 1.37 crore men and over 4,300 from the third gender, are expected to cast their vote in the single phase polls. Over 1.54 crore are eligible to vote in the Municipal Corporations and over 64 lakh and over 59 lakh are eligible in the Municipalities and the Town Panchayats respectively. In the Greater Chennai Corporation, over 61.18 lakh (30.93 lakh women, 30.23 lakh women and over 1,500 from the third gender) are on the rolls. Those having COVID-19 symptoms and those who have been infected will be allowed to vote between 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm. More than one lakh police personnel have been deployed on security duty across the state. Additional forces have been posted in polling booths which were identified as vulnerable and sensitive. Police also conducted flag marches in sensitive areas to instill confidence among the people. A total of 57,778 candidates are in the fray for the elections to 648 urban local bodies in 21 Municipal Corporations, 138 Municipalities and 489 Town Panchayats in the State.
Polling will be held to fill up 12,607 posts, which included 1,374 Corporation Ward members, 3,843 Municipality Ward members and 7,621 Town Panchayat member posts. Of the 57,778 candidates, 11,196 candidates are contesting for Corporation Ward members, 17,922 for Municipality Ward members and 28,660 for Town Panchayat Ward member posts. A total 218 candidates were declared elected unopposed in various parts of the State. Though several parties are in the fray, it would be a straight fight between the DMK and the AIADMK, which was trying to re-gain the people’s confidence after losing the Assembly polls.
The counting of votes will take place on February 22. After the newly elected members assume office on March two, indirect elections for the Mayors and Deputy Mayors of the Corporations, the Chairpersons and Vice-chairpersons of the Municipalities and the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Town Panchayats will be held on March four. The elections would witness a multi-cornered contest. Heading the field was the DMK-led Front, which consists of Congress, MDMK, VCK, CPI, CPI(M) and TVK. The Principal Opposition AIADMK is facing the polls along with TMC, after the PMK and the BJP, which had faced the 2021 Assembly polls together, walked out of the front and will contest the polls alone. Other parties in the fray included, the DMDK of actor-politician Vijayakanth, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam, Naam Tamizhar Katchi of actor-director Seeman, AMMK led by TTV Dhinakaran, who is the nephew of expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala and other minor outfits.
