LS polls: TN leaders make beeline to vote; 13.48 per cent turnout so far

Tamil Nadu recorded 13.48 per cent voting till 9 am Thursday in 38 Lok Sabha constituencies of the state, with Chief Minister K Palaniswami and DMK chief M K Stalin among early voters.

Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo said polling was peaceful and issues like technical glitches in some locations were being addressed.

"Polling has been very peaceful," he told reporters here.

Palaniswami and Stalin waited in queue at Edappadi in Salem district and Chennai, respectively, and cast their votes.

After casting his vote, Stalin alleged that there has been distribution of cash and accused the Election Commission of being an "ally" of Central and State governments.

Union minister Pon Radhakrishnan, DMK's Dayanidhi Maran and Kanimozhi and Karti Chidambaram of the Congress are among key contenders.

Radhakrishnan told reporters in Kanyakumari: "This is a massive democratic festival which will decide the fate of India. I have exercised my franchise....a silent revolution is happening."
AIADMK leader and State Minister D Jayakumar said 13 per cent voting in the morning "is a joyous thing."
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran alleged "malfunctioning of EVMs is an achievement of the Modi government."