After a high-octane campaign that lasted weeks, Tamil Nadu is heading to the polling booths today. A total of 4,023 candidates are contesting across 234 constituencies as the state is set to witness a four-cornered contest, with the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) looking to put an end to the bipolar political landscape of the state. However, the Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led AIADMK, leading the NDA alliance, remains the main rival to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's DMK, which is looking to beat an anti-incumbency wave.
Tamil Nadu has a total of 5,73,43,291 voters, including 2,80,30,658 men, 2,93,04,905 women, and 7,728 third-gender voters. Among the candidates, 3,579 are men, 443 are women, and one is transgender, local media reports said. Following the completion of the electoral roll revision, around 40 lakh names were removed. As a result, the voter turnout is reportedly expected to exceed 85%.
Voting will take place across 75,064 polling stations using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). These machines reached their respective polling stations on Wednesday. The voting is scheduled to begin at 7 am and will end at 6 pm.
CCTV cameras have been installed inside and outside every polling station. The Election Commission has set up three levels of control rooms to monitor polling in real time—under the Chief Electoral Officer, the District Election Officer, and the Returning Officer. The main control room under the Chief Electoral Officer has been set up on the 10th floor of Namakkal Kavignar Maaligai at the Secretariat in Chennai.
All parties led intense campaigning to secure victory. Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin began his campaign in Tiruvarur and followed it up with rallies, public meetings, and roadshows across districts, gathering support for the DMK and its alliance candidates. He concluded his campaign on Tuesday in Kolathur, the constituency from which he is contesting. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who began his campaign in Mylapore, wrapped it up in Salem.
TVK boss Vijay filed his nomination in Perambur, started his campaign there, and concluded it yesterday in Nandanam, Chennai. Naam Tamilar Katchi chief coordinator Seeman concluded his campaign in Karaikudi. Despite the rising summer heat, the campaign activities of the leaders and candidates were intense.
Amongst the leaders of smaller parties, PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss held his final campaign event in Dharmapuri, AMMK's T.T.V. Dhinakaran in Karaikudi, DMDK General Secretary Premalatha in Vridhachalam, and VCK leader Thirumavalavan in Thirukovilur, while TMC leader G.K. Vasan wrapped up his in Kumbakonam.
The counting is scheduled to take place on May 4.