Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections: Voting Underway Across All 234 Constituencies

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Polling is being held across Tamil Nadu on Thursday, covering all 234 Assembly constituencies in a single phase. The vote is expected to determine the next government, with millions turning out to participate in the state-wide exercise.

More than 4,000 candidates are contesting, making the election a crowded and competitive affair.

The main contest involves key regional parties such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIDMK), Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and Tamil Manila Congress (TMC), along with independents and smaller groups.

The electorate stands at over 5.7 crore voters, including a slightly higher number of women than men. More than 14 lakh first-time voters are also taking part, adding a new dimension to the voting patterns.

Officials said extensive preparations were completed ahead of polling.

Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik stated, “The entire election machinery is fully prepared,” while highlighting efforts to counter misinformation during the campaign. She noted that hundreds of clarifications were issued to address misleading content online.

To improve participation, voter awareness campaigns were carried out across urban and rural areas in the weeks leading up to polling day.

Voting arrangements include over 75,000 polling stations and more than three lakh staff deployed for election duties.

Mock drills were conducted at several locations earlier in the day to ensure equipment and procedures were functioning smoothly.

Security has been tightened, with more than 83,000 police personnel stationed across the state.

Authorities have also deployed a large number of electronic voting machines, including ballot units and VVPAT systems, along with reserve stock to handle any technical issues.

Multiple parties are in contention, and regional dynamics vary. The outcome is expected to hinge on turnout trends. It will also depend on voter preferences across different parts of the state.

Mankrit Kaur