The fate of 950 candidates in 39 Lok Sabha constituencies of Tamil Nadu was sealed on April 19, with 69.46% of the electorate turning up to exercise their franchise in a four-cornered contest. The polling percentage in the Vilavancode Assembly by-election was 64.54. The figures were as of 7 p.m. and could be revised marginally.
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The figures are provisional not including the postal votes. The final figures are expected by Saturday noon. Except for a few minor incidents, there was no major untoward incident during the polling, Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo told journalists. “The data we have shared are approximate, based on the sample data from polling stations,” he said.
Also read: 2024 Lok Sabha elections LIVE - April 20
Chennai Central recorded 53.91% turnout, Chennai South 54.27%, Chennai North 60.13%, Sriperumbudur 60.21%, Kallakurichi 79.25%, Dharmapuri 81.48%, Chidambaram 75.32%, Perambalur 77.37%, Namakkal (78.16%), Karur (78.61%), Arakkonam (74.08%), Arani (75.65%), Salem (78.13%), Villupuram (76.47%), Tiruvannamalai (73.88%), Vellore (73.42%), Kancheepuram (71.55%), Krishnagiri (71.31%), Cuddalore (72.28%), Virudhunagar (70.17%), Pollachi (70.70%), Nagapattinam (71.55%), and Tiruppur (70.58%).
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Tiruvallur recorded 68.317%, Theni (69.87%), Mayiladuthurai (70.06%), Erode (70.54%), Dindigul (70.99%), Tiruchi (67.45%), Coimbatore (64.81%), the Nilgiris (70.93%), Tenkasi (67.55%), Madurai (61.92%), Sivaganga (63.94%), Ramanathapuram (68.18%), Thoothukudi (59.96%), Tirunelveli (64.10%), Thanjavur (68.18%), and Kanniyakumari (65.46%).
Missing names
When asked about complaints of names missing from the rolls at some places, Mr. Sahoo said, “We have to look into the circumstances on which they were removed. I request voters to check if their names are in the rolls during the special summary revision in the future. In some cases, we realised their names were present in another booth.”
Asked whether there was any demand for re-polling at any booth, he said: “We will get to know about it tomorrow, depending on the reports received from the Presiding Officers and independent observers and political parties.”
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Replying to a question whether there was any complaint, he said there was a complaint from a political party and the Election Commission had sought a report from the District Election Officer.
Tense movement in Ekanapuram village after a government official put pressure asking villagers to come and vote. The villages have decided to boycott Lok Sabha election against Parandur Green Field Airport project on April 19, 2024. | Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj
Poor turnout till noon
Due to the scorching heat, the polling percentage was poor till afternoon, but it picked up after 3 p.m., Mr. Sahoo said. “Many turned up between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.”.
The flying squads and the static surveillance teams would be dismantled in most of the areas, except for districts bordering Kerala and Karnataka which are yet to go to the polls.