40 to 45 per cent vote by 1500 hrs in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, May 8: An estimated 40 to 45 per cent of the over 46.3 million electorate cast their votes till 1500 hrs today, as the single phase polling in 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu went off by and large peacefully, barring some minor incidents of police firing and lathicharge.

Polling began on a brisk note this morning with people turning up in large numbers in the capital city and other parts of the state to beat the sweltering heat. As the mercury level started rising, the polling rate slowed down around noon, before it picked up steam, when the 1700 hrs deadline neared.

'Barring a few minor incidents, polling was by and large peaceful so far', Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta said.

Meanwhile, police sources said a CISF personnel fired one round in the air to disperse a 50-member strong mob, which tried to attack him at Chinna Salem constituency in Villuppuram district.

In Chennai city, police used mild force to chase workers belonging to the ruling AIADMK and the DMK-led DPA when they tried to cross beyond the 100-metre mark to give voter slips and canvass votes at J J Nagar in R K Nagar Assembly constituency.

In a similar incident in front of a booth in Perambur Assembly constituency, police used mild force to disperse DPA workers after they picked up an argument with them.

The vote will decide electoral fortunes of 2,586 candidates, including 160 women.

Political heavyweights like Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa (Andipatti), DMK President M Karunanidhi (Chepauk), DMK Deputy General Secretary M K Stalin (Thousand Lights), actor Vijayakanth (Vriddhachalam) and several State Ministers are in the fray.

Mr Karunanidhi, who remained unbeaten in the last ten elections, is contesting the elections for the record eleventh time seeking reelection from Chepauk for the third successive term.

Tension prevailed at a polling station at Rajendar Nagar in Andipatti constituency, where Ms Jayalalithaa is seeking re-election, when her rival and DMK candidate Seeman was 'assaulted' after he allegedly pulled down the EVM and stopped it from functioning in a booth, in a bid to prevent 'bogus voting.' Police registered cases against Mr Seeman on charges of damaging the EVM and against some AIADMK workers for assaulting the candidate.

An AIADMK leader's car was torched near Kurumbur Railway station in Tiruchendur constituency, while windscreens of cars were damaged when DMK and AIADMK workers clashed with Puthiya Tamizhagam volunteers at Ottapidaram constituency.

In some booths in the city and other districts, polling commenced late due to problems in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Officials immediately set right the problems and replaced faulty EVMs, enabling early resumption of polling.

People staged road roko agitations in the city and other places in the state, protesting against their names 'missing' in the electoral rolls. They claimed that they were prevented from voting, despite having photo identity cards. They had voted in the May 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

A report from Tiruchirapalli said 50 per cent voters had exercised their franchise for the nine Assembly constituencies in Tiruchirapalli till 1500 hrs today.

Official sources said Tiruchirapalli-I recorded maximum polling of 59 per cent, followed by Uppiliyapuram 57, Tiruchirapalli 55, Srirangam 54 and Tiruverambur 51 per cent.

UNI

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