Voter Turnout in Tamil Nadu: TVK Chief Raises Alarm Over Transport Issues

TVK chief Vijay on Thursday called on the Election Commission to extend polling hours by two additional hours until 8 PM, addressing concerns over voter turnout during the Assembly elections across 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, Vijay emphasized the importance of deploying emergency public transport services to assist the influx of voters. He highlighted reports of slow polling processes, causing long queues and potential discouragement among voters. Vijay stressed the need for supervisory officers to efficiently manage the voting process to prevent unnecessary delays.

TVK leaders, including 'Bussy' N Anand and Aadhav Arjuna, strongly criticized the state administration and transport department. They alleged a systemic failure in providing essential bus services, leaving voters stranded at key terminals such as Guduvanchery, Chengalpattu, and Koyambedu. Arjuna accused the DMK-led government of intentionally sabotaging poll turnout and ignoring election officials' directives to alleviate transport issues. Allegations of 'bogus voting' and manipulation were also leveled against DMK cadres in several constituencies.

(With inputs from agencies.)