Chennai, May 3 (IANS) All arrangements, including an elaborate three-tier security mechanism, have been put in place for the counting of votes for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled on May 4, Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said on Sunday.Counting will begin at 8 a.m. with postal ballots, followed by Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes from 8.30 a.m. across 62 designated counting centres in the state.Polling for the 234 Assembly constituencies was held on April 23 in an intens…
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Chennai, May 2 (IANS) The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay, on Saturday urged the state election machinery to strengthen security arrangements at counting centres across Tamil Nadu ahead of the Assembly election results on May 4.A delegation led by TVK General Secretary (Election Campaign Management) Aadhav Arjuna met Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik at the Secretariat and submitted a detailed representation highlighting concerns over law and order d…
New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Admiring record voter participation, a group comprising 32 delegates from 16 countries and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), who witnessed voting in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu described the Assembly elections as “a true festival of democracy”, an Election Commission of India (ECI) official said on Sunday. The delegates also praised the meticulous planning and seamless execution of polls by ECI during their visit organised as part of…
Chennai, April 23 (IANS) Tension prevailed at a polling booth in Chennai’s Mylapore Assembly constituency on Thursday after a confrontation broke out between BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan and DMK polling agents over alleged voting irregularities.The incident occurred at a polling station located in Alwarpet, where Tamilisai raised objections, alleging that certain individuals were allowed to cast their votes without proper identification.Her claims were immediately contested by DMK age…
New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) Voting is taking place on Thursday, in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections across all 234 constituencies, marking a crucial day in the state’s political calendar as millions of voters head to polling stations to decide the next government. The election features a total of 4,023 candidates in the fray, reflecting a wide and competitive multi-cornered contest spread across parties and independents.The electoral battle is primarily being fought between major political for…
Chennai, April 21 (IANS) Campaigning for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections drew to a close at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, and the state has officially entered the crucial 48-hour “silence period” ahead of polling scheduled for April 23. The tenure of the present government will end on May 10, and the Election Commission had announced the poll schedule on March 15, fixing a single-phase election on April 23 and counting of votes on May 4.In the run-up to the polls, political parties have completed se…
Chennai, March 30 (IANS) In a significant step to facilitate voter participation across state borders, the Tamil Nadu government has directed employers to grant paid leave not only on its own polling day but also for employees registered as voters in neighbouring states.Tamil Nadu goes to the polls on April 23, and the state has already declared it a public holiday. However, authorities have now clarified provisions for residents who live or work in Tamil Nadu but are enrolled as voters in Keral…
Chennai, March 28 (IANS) Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay is set to file his nomination papers on Monday, March 30, for the Perambur Assembly constituency, even as he escalated concerns over alleged administrative bias ahead of his campaign launch.On Saturday afternoon, Vijay met Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik at the State Secretariat and submitted a formal complaint, alleging denial of permissions and partisan conduct by election authorities.The meeting assumes …
Chennai, March 19(IANS) As Tamil Nadu gears up for the Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has unveiled a comprehensive set of measures aimed at enhancing voter convenience and strengthening transparency in the polling process. The initiatives focus on improving on-ground facilities, leveraging technology, and boosting voter participation across the state. Recognising that a large number of polling stations function from schools and colleges, election authorities are upgra…
Chennai, March 18 (IANS) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has seized unaccounted cash and goods worth ₹23.28 crore across Tamil Nadu within just two days, as intensified surveillance measures come into force ahead of the Assembly elections. According to a statement issued by Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik, strict monitoring is underway in all 234 Assembly constituencies to curb violations of the Model Code of Conduct.The large-scale seizures highlight the Commission’s aggressi…