First phase of rural local body polls begins in nine districts

The State election commission has held several rounds of virtual meetings with the district administrations and the police to ensure a full-proof poll.

Elections are being held at Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Ranipet, Tiruppatur, Kallakurichi, Villupuram, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Vellore districts. Polling is brisk in several constituencies since 7 a.m. when the voting began. In many constituencies at Kallakurichi and Villupuram, large queues were seen and in other districts, moderate polling was recorded.

A large contingent of police is deployed in all the districts after violence was reported in many parts of South Tamil Nadu, including Tirunelveli and Dindigul districts.

There have been allegations of huge money being changed hands and political parties trying to influence people using freebies including money, liquor, and food items to cast votes in their favour.

In South Tamil Nadu, the recent incidents of violence in which four people were beheaded within a span of five days have led to a friction in the districts of Tirunelveli and Dindigul. The elections in Tirunelveli will be held under heavy police posse as the State Election Commission does not want any violence to happen between the Dalit communities and the Thevars in this area.