Nonagenarians, differently abled, gypsies use ballot power in

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Press Trust of India Chennai
Last Updated : May 16 2016 | 10:42 PM IST
Several nonagenarians, differently abled, transgenders and gypsies besides a number of first-time voters today turned up at poll booths to exercise their franchise and elect members to the Tami Nadu Assembly.
99-year-old Rukmani Ammal, a resident of Triplicane voted at Hindu Senior Secondary School here. Her son, Alagiri Rao thanked election authorities for the "good arrangements" for the elderly people to vote quickly.
"My mother has voted in general elections since 1952 and is happy to vote this time too," he told PTI.
Similarly, 98-year-old Seethalakshmi was wheeled into the polling station by her family members as she cast her ballot at a school here.
Serpentine queues of first time voters -- young men and women -- marked several polling stations across Tamil Nadu. Similarly, women waited in good numbers in both urban and rural constituencies with patience.
Gypsy community "Narikorava" men and women and transgenders voted in good numbers in areas including Pallavaram Cantonment here.
Election authorities had made elaborate arrangements including ramps, wheel-chairs for the differently abled, drinking water, shades (pandals), and chairs. Model polling stations had decorative arches besides other amenities like play equipment for children.
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First Published: May 16 2016 | 10:42 PM IST

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