The single phase polling on Saturday in Tamil Nadu to elect over 12,500 ward members in 640 plus urban local bodies was peaceful by and large, officials said. The voter turnout was tepid in several regions through the day and an announcement on overall polling percentage is expected from the state election commission. The counting of votes would commence on February 22 in 268 centres. Voting began in urban regions spread across 38 districts at 7 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. While the last one hour of polling was allocated to those affected by coronavirus, people who arrived at polling stations till 5 p.m. were allowed to vote. EVMs were moved to counting centres amid tight security. Till 3 p.m. the aggregate polling percentage was 47.18 in the state.
The urban civic polls were last held in Tamil Nadu in 2011 when the AIADMK was in power. Stray incidents like a BJP man’s objection to a Hijab clad woman voter in a polling station in Madurai, altercations between groups and ruckus between DMK and AIADMK workers in some areas led to anxiety for a while. There were also complaints about malfunctioning of EVMs in some polling stations besides multiple allegations of distribution of money against one and another. It includes accusations against both the ruling DMK in some cases and the main opposition AIADMK in respect of others. The BJP also alleged distribution of cash by the DMK across the state.
Here are the latest updates:
Coimbatore city sees less than 50% voter turnout
Of the 15.65 lakh registered voters in the 100 wards in the city, only a little over 7.63 lakh had voted on Saturday.
The data shared by the Coimbatore Corporation put the polling percentage at 48.79. The Corporation sources said this was likely to go up but only marginally as COVID-19 persons had voted between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Total poll percentage
Dharmapuri 77.75 %
Villupuram 72.39 %
Vellore 62.21%
Tiruvannamalai 70%
Ranipet 72.24%
Tiruppur 60.66%
Tirupatur 69%
5 p.m. polling percentage
Madurai district records a polling of 52.73 % votes
Krishnagiri polled 64.33%
Tirupatur 66.47%
Tiruppur district registers 58.52% polling
Erode district records 65.67%
Voters let in after closing time
Little after the closing time for polls, party cadres of the DMK and the AIADMK demanded that few voters be allowed entry into the polling center in TK Swami school in Krishnagiri. Following a brief protest, few voters were let in to cast their votes at 6.10 pm.
Union Minister of State for Fisheries L. Murugan casting his vote at a Chennai Middle School, Anna Nagar East polling booth on Saturday. | Photo Credit: M. VEDHAN
AIADMK and opposite party men demonstrate at Sholai Hall Road near a polling booth at 28th ward in Dindigul, on Saturday, February 19, 2022, condemning distribution of money to voters. | Photo Credit: G. Karthikeyan
Vellore records 50% polling as of 3 p.m.
After an early slow start, polling picked up later in the day with around 50 % votes polled for the urban local body elections in Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Ranipet and Tirupattur districts as of 3 p.m on Saturday.
Key towns in Vellore like Gudiyatham, Katpadi and Vellore Corporation registered around 50 % of votes by 3 p.m. whereas small towns like Pallikonda, Thiruvalam and Odugathur along Jawadhu Hills near Anaicut block have recorded over 65 % of total votes polled in the district.
ADMK party workers staging demonstration at G.A. Road, Old Washermanpet in Chennai on Saturday. | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
Coimbatore sees around 40 % polling as of 3 p.m.
As of 3 p.m., Coimbatore City polled 40.39% votes in the urban local body polls on Saturday.
In the Nilgiris, 47.48 % of voters cast their votes till 3 p.m. Around 52 % of voters cast their votes in wards in municipalities and 44 % of voters in 11 town panchayats have cast their vote so far.
As of 3 p.m., Madurai yet to hit 50 % in polling, other Southern districts do better
The overall polling percentage in Ramanathapuram, Theni, Dindigul and Sivaganga districts crossed the 50 per cent mark at 3 p.m. in southern Tamil Nadu, while Madurai and Tirunelveli were yet to reach the halfway mark, according to reports from the special control room.
The 10 districts of southern Tamil Nadu saw largely peaceful polling in almost all Municipal, Town Panchayat and Corporation wards on Saturday. The polling, which began at 7 a.m., was brisk in rural and semi-urban pockets, while it was dull in urban locations, polling officials said.
After dull start, polling picks up in Central districts, over 50 % polled in most places as of 3 p.m.
Brisk polling was reported in most parts of the central region with almost all the nine districts here recording more than 50% polling till 3 p.m.
Karur district recorded the highest overall polling percentage of 63.56% as of 3 p.m. The polling percentage in the town panchayats in the district was 76.69% and in municipalities it was 58.92%. The Karur Corporation reported 60.28% polling percentage.
Ariyalur district reported the second-highest average polling percentage of 62.34% in the region. While 57.86% of voters had cast their votes in Ariyalur Municipality, more than 70% of voters in Udayarpalayam and Vardharajanpettai town panchayats had exercised their franchise by 3 p.m.
Chennai Corporation registers 32.09% polling as of 3 p.m.
The Greater Chennai Corporation has registered 32.09% polling in the 200 wards of the city by 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said polling has been peaceful in the city. A total of 184 complaints were received from residents by the control room at Ripon Buildings.
In the morning, the turnout was low in many polling stations, with fewer women casting their votes when compared to men in a number of polling stations.
The number of electors at polling stations started increasing in the afternoon, officials said -- Aloysius Xavier Lopez
Even a snake bite did not stop this Virudhunagar resident from casting his vote
Despite pain and discomfort, M. Balamurugan (35) of Kariyapatti went to the polling booth at the Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School, in Virudhunagar district on Saturday, to cast his vote.
Mr. Balamurugan had suffered a snake bite and had only been discharged from hospital on Friday. His right leg was covered with bandages from his thigh to his ankle.
Actor Suriya and his brother Karthi, after casting votes at Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, in Chennai on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Ravindran R
AIADMK’s sidelined former interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala casting her vote at Vidyodaya girls’ higher secondary school, T Nagar, on Saturday morning. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
DMK youth wing leader and Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin cast his vote in Chennai on Saturday for the urban local body polls. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
S. Ve. Shekhar, former MLA of Mylapore along with his mother Alamelu Venkatraman (92) voted at St. John’s School, 126th ward in Chennai. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
‘Voters faced difficulty in finding polling booth’
Anna Nagar MLA from DMK M. K. Mohan, who inspected a booth in his constituency, expressed disappointment over the poor turnout. He said that turnout is relatively better at low income neighbourhoods. He added that many voters faced difficulty finding their their polling booth as it has changed from the Assembly election last year for many of them.
Former State Minister, K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji, casting his vote in Sivakasi Corporation on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
State records 8.21% polling till 9.00 a.m.
Tamil Nadu recorded a voter turnout of 8.21% till 9 a.m. in the urban local body polls, and polling in Chennai was expected to pick up in the coming hours, Tamil Nadu State Election Commissioner, V. Palanikumar said.
The turnout in the Corporations was 5.78%, Municipalities 10.32% and Town Panchayats 11.74%, Mr. Palanikumar said.
He said polling was largely peaceful across the State. There were only complaints of around 30-40 EVMs malfunctioning that were set right or replaced, following which polling was continued, he said.
Minister for Finance PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan casting his vote at a polling station in Madurai on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Ashok R
Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam party President Kamal Haasan casts his vote at Chennai Corporation High School, Teynampet for Urban Local Body Election in Chennai on Saturday. | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
Polling peaceful in Chennai, says Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal
City Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal said urban local body polling has been largely peaceful across the city, barring a few complaints on distribution of money, food and other issues.
The City Police Commissioner inspected several polling stations on Saturday morning. After visiting a polling centre at Bharat Senior Secondary school, he enquired with a returning officer on whether there were any issues. He asked whether mobile police parties had visited the polling booth and sought to know whether any assistance was needed from the police.
First phase polling is 10% in Kancheepuram Corporation
In Kancheepuram district, the Kancheepuram Corporation which went for polls along with town panchayats and municipalities, the Corporation has polled around 10% of votes in the first phase.
The Kancheepuram Corporation, having been upgraded from a municipality, has a total of 2,18,173 votes. On Saturday of the total of 23,293 votes polled, men voters were high at 13,544 and women votes were at 9,749- R. Srikanth
DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi casting her votes at St. Abas school in Alwarpet on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Ragu R
Cooperative Minister I. Periyasamy casting his vote at a polling booth at Gandhiji Memorial Middle school in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu February 19 2022. | Photo Credit: Karthikeyan G.
Tambaram corporation sees poor voting
In the first phase of polling for 70 wards of Tambaram corporation on Saturday, a total of 50,787 votes were polled.
In the corporation which has more than 7,75,000 votes 15,959 men and 9,840 women have voted. A total of 25,699 votes were polled.- T.N. Bureau
AMMK Party leader T. T. V. Dinakaran casts his vote for the urban local body elections at a polling station in division 174 Zone 13 Adyar on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Karunakaran M.
Southern TN districts see brisk polling
Polling for the urban local body elections commenced on a brisk note in many of the southern districts of Tamil Nadu on Saturday.
Madurai Collector S. Aneesh Shekhar cast his vote at a polling station in the Armed Reserve Police Grounds.
Polling starts on a brisk note in the western districts
Polling for the urban local body elections in the western districts of Tamil Nadu started on a brisk note on Saturday, and was largely incident-free. Safety measures such as distribution of gloves and sanitisers were in place in almost all polling stations.
The Coimbatore Corporation saw 6.79% voters cast their votes by 9 a.m. Polling started off peacefully at 7 a.m. without glitches in voting machines or any law and order issues, said Coimbatore Corporation sources.
CM confident about DMK sweeping urban local body elections
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday expressed confidence that the ruling DMK will record a resounding victory in the urban local body elections, particularly in all the Corporations in the State.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin casts his vote at a polling booth in SIET college, Chennai on February 19, 2022 | Photo Credit: Raghunathan S.R.
Addressing the media after casting his vote in Teynampet here on Saturday, Mr. Stalin blamed the AIADMK for making baseless and false allegations against the DMK regarding poll violations. He said that they were doing it as they will need some one to blame for the loss they are going to face in the elections.
“We have brought all that under control. They are afraid of losing the election. That is why they’re making these baseless allegations. There is no need to use the army (Central security forces) as demanded by him (Mr. Velumani),” he said.- T.N. Bureau
Complaint of money distribution reported in Thiruvanmiyur
DMK functionaries alleged that AIADMK cadre were distributing money to voters in the 179th ward in Singaravelan Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur in Chennai.
Reportedly, AIADMK supporters were found distributing cash along with booth slips near a booth in Singaravelan Nagar. They were asking voters to cast their votes in favour of the party's candidate. When DMK men questioned this, a heated argument erupted between them.
A mobile police party reached the spot and the AIADMK cadre escaped from there, leaving the money with the booth slips.
The Thiruvanmiyur Police are inquiring into the matter- R. Sivaraman
Voters queue up, polling peaceful in Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur & Tiruvannamalai
Polling for the urban local body elections has been progressing peacefully on Saturday, with voters turning up early to cast their votes in Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai districts that form the erstwhile North Arcot areas in northern Tamil Nadu. Around 15% of votes had been cast until 9. 30 a.m. on Saturday.
Cuddalore district records average voter turnout of 10.11 % till 9.00 a.m.- T.N. Bureau
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin casts his vote along with his wife Durga Stalin
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin along with his wife Durga Stalin voted at a polling booth in SIET college, Chennai on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Raghunath S.R.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his wife Durga Stalin undergoing thermal screening before casting their vote at a polling booth in SIET College in Teynampet, Chennai. | Photo Credit: Pon Vasanth B.A.
Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian cast his vote in Chennai for the TN urban local body polls
Photo: Special Arrangement
Polling underway at Greater Chennai Corporation
The Greater Chennai Corporation has made security arrangements at all polling stations in the city. Polling began in over 4,800 polling stations at 7 a.m. Security arrangements have been strengthened in critical and vulnerable polling stations in all the wards, said Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi on Saturday.
Mr. Bedi voted at the polling station in Chinmaya Vidyalaya in ward 127 in Kodambakkam.
A senior citizen after casting her vote in Saligramam in Chennai for Urban Local body election. | Photo Credit: Velankanni Raj B
Tendered ballot papers have been distributed to all the polling stations. Each polling station has received 20 tendered ballot papers. The presiding officer of each polling station has powers to issue tendered ballot papers for electors whose votes have already been cast by another person. Once an elector finds that his vote is already cast, the elector may request the presiding officer to permit voting through tendered ballot papers.
State Water Resources Minister, Duraimurugan casts his vote at a polling booth in Katpadi near Vellore. | Photo Credit: C. Venkatachalapathy
Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration Department P. Moorthy casting his vote at a polling station in Madurai.
| Photo Credit: Ashok R.
Polling begins on a dull note in Tiruchi
Polling for the urban local body elections begun on a dull note in Tiruchi on Saturday.
Voters were seen waiting in queues only in some booths, while many others had just a few voters in the first hour of polling. Several voters said they had not received the booth slips and had queued up to get the same first at the polling booths. The change in ward numbers caused much confusion and difficulty for voters to obtain the slips.
Actor Vijay cast his vote at a polling booth in Neelangarai in Chennai earlier this morning for the Urban Local Body Polls.
Photo: Special Arrangement
Photo: Special Arrangement
Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi cast his vote
Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi cast his vote at a polling booth in Ward 127 in Kodambakkam Zone on February 19, 2022. Photo: Special Arrangement
Minister for Information and Publicity M.P. Saminathan votes in the civic poll
Minister for Information and Publicity M.P. Saminathan casts his vote at a polling booth in Muthur Town Panchayat near Kangeyam in Tiruppur district on February 19, 2022. Photo: Special Arrangement
A woman voter without mask is fitted with one at the SIET college polling booth entrance during the local bodies election held in Chennai on February 19, 2022. | Photo Credit: Raghunathan S.R.
Women wearing plastic gloves, waiting at polling booths 25 and 26 of Udhagamandalam munciplality at Kandal in Udhagamandalam on February 19, 2022. | Photo Credit: Sathyamoorthy M.
Telangana Governor and Puducherry Lt. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan votes
Telangana Governor and Puducherry Lt. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan after casting her vote in Saligramam in Chennai on February 19, 2022 for urban local body election. | Photo Credit: Velankanni Raj B.
Madurai Collector S. Aneesh Shekhar casts vote
Madurai Collector S. Aneesh Shekhar cast his vote at a polling station in Madurai city on February 19, 2022. Photo: Special Arrangement
Officials ready for polling at a booth at Muslim Higher Secondary School in Vellore for urban local body elections in on February 19, 2022. | Photo Credit: Venkatachalapathy C.
18,000 police personnel deployed for civic polls in Chennai
The Greater Chennai City Police has tightened security arrangements and deployed over 18,000 police and 4,000 non- police personnel for local bodies polls to be held in 167 wards of Chennai Corporation which fall under the city police jurisdiction.
On the orders of City Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal, the police have put in place elaborate security arrangements in all the wards so as to ensure people cast their votes without any fear or hesitation.
Security scaled up for urban local bodies poll
Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the police in Tiruchi and other districts in the central region to ensure smooth conduct of the elections to be held for the urban local bodies on Saturday.
Comprehensive security schemes have been drafted in each district in the region with field-level police personnel having been given briefings about their role and responsibilities.
Voting for Tamil Nadu urban local bodies elections to start at 7 a.m.
Polling to fill over 12,800 posts in more than 640 urban local bodies across Tamil Nadu will commence at 7 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. on February 19.
More than 2.79 crore residents, including 1.42 crore women, 1.37 crore men and over 4,300 from the third gender, are eligible to vote.
Between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., only those having COVID-19 symptoms and those who have been infected will be allowed to vote, according to the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission (TNSEC).
Published - February 19, 2022 07:09 am IST
