Tamil Nadu assembly polls: Voting for multi-cornered contest begins today

As 232 constituencies go to polls, CM Jayalalithaa and DMK chief Karunanidhi are in fray

Polling to 232 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu that will decide the fate of over 3700 candidates, including chief minister J Jayalalithaa and DMK chief M Karunanidhi, commenced today at 7 a.m.

Electronic Voting Machines across 65,000-odd polling booths were opened for around 5.50 crore voters to cast their votes.

Over one lakh security personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful elections.

Though Tamil Nadu has 234 assembly seats across 32 districts, polling is being held only for 232 as the Election Commission has postponed it for May 23 in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur segments following complaints of voters being bribed.

In 234 constituencies a total of 3,776 candidates including 320 women are in the fray. There are 1,566 independent candidates are also trying their electoral fortunes.

In the 232 constituencies in which the poll is being held on Monday, there are 3,728 candidates in the fray.

The state is seeing a multi-cornered contest.

The ruling AIADMK is going to the polls aligning with a couple of smaller outfits fielding its candidates in 227 seats and the balance seven has been given to its allies.

The DMK has aligned with the Congress, two Muslim parties and some smaller outfits.

The third front led by the DMDK comprises the CPI-M, CPI, VCK, TMC and MDMK under its fold.

The PMK is going it alone while BJP has aligned with few smaller parties.

Though the fight is mainly between the AIADMK and the DMK the polls might through up a surprise element as well.

Besides Jayalalithaa (R K Nagar) and Karunanidhi (Thiruvarur), a host of leaders including DMDK founder Vijayakant and PMK's Anbumani Ramadoss, both Chief Ministerial candidates, MK Stalin (DMK), H Raja and Tamilisai Sounderrajan of the BJP are in fray.

A total of 1,11,958 police personnel, including 21,780 para military personnel, would be involved in the election duty.