Tamil Nadu polls: Polling ends across 234 seats, 84.51% turnout at 6 pm
Polling for the 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu concluded at 6 PM on Thursday, with officials allowing voters who had reached polling stations before the deadline to cast their ballots.
After months of intense campaigning, the state went to the polls in what has been widely seen as a crucial and closely watched electoral contest.
Several prominent leaders and public figures were among the early voters, casting their ballots before 9 am as polling gathered pace across Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister MK Stalin voted in Chennai along with Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, while AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami cast his vote in Salem. Actor-politician Vijay, Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, and Ajith Kumar were also seen at polling booths early in the day.
Voting began earlier in the morning amid tight security arrangements and continued through the day. Early turnout trends showed Tiruppur recording the highest voter participation at 62.97 per cent, while the Nilgiris reported the lowest at 50.42 per cent.
Voting for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly began at 7:00 am and continued till 6:00 pm in a single-phase election. The results will be counted on May 4, which will decide the next government in the southern state. The current Assembly’s tenure is set to end on May 10.
The contest has generated significant anticipation, with voters weighing whether the DMK’s “Rising Sun” will secure another term, or if the AIADMK’s “Two Leaves” can stage a comeback.
In Tamil Nadu, the main battle is shaping up between the ruling Congress and DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the BJP-AIADMK coalition. However, the entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has added a fresh layer of competition, turning the election into a multi-cornered contest.