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Tamil Nadu civic elections updates: DMK heads for landslide win across the state

As many as 218 members have been elected unopposed for corporations (4), municipalities (18) and town panchayats (196), said the state election commission (SEC).
DMK candidate Sherly Jai along with supporters celebrates victory. (Photo | Ashwin prasath, EPS)
DMK candidate Sherly Jai along with supporters celebrates victory. (Photo | Ashwin prasath, EPS)
Online Desk

Even as the votes for the urban local bodies are being counted on Tuesday, early trends indicate that the ruling DMK is set to register a landslide victory.

The polls for electing 12601 ward members for 21 corporations, 138 municipalities and 489 town panchayats were conducted on February 19.

As many as 218 members have been elected unopposed for corporations (4), municipalities (18) and town panchayats (196), said the state election commission (SEC).

The four candidates elected unopposed for Corporations belong to the DMK. They were elected from Erode (ward 15), Karur (ward 22) and Vellore (ward 7 &8).

Similarly, the 18 unanimously elected representatives from municipalities include 15 from the DMK and three independents.

DMK heading towards landslide victory in the Tamil Nadu urban local bodies elections

As many as 218 members have been elected unopposed for corporations (4), municipalities (18) and town panchayats (196), said the state election commission (SEC). The four candidates elected unopposed for Corporations belong to the DMK. They were elected from Erode (ward 15), Karur (ward 22) and Vellore (ward 7 &8). (READ FULL STORY HERE)

These tribals travelled on bamboo rafts, then trekked 10 km to vote in TN local body polls

Their belief in democracy is so strong that they do not want to miss out on even a single opportunity to exercise their franchise. Meet the 18 of the 25 tribal residents of Injikuzhi, who reached Periyamyilar Kaani, a day ahead of the urban local body polls, by crossing the Papanasam dam on makeshift bamboo rafts. (READ MORE)

Driver stops bus midway to vote in TN local body polls

A video of a private bus driver halting his bus midway on Saturday to cast his vote in Bommidi has been receiving praise on social media. The driver was lauded for his diligence in exercising his democratic right to vote. (READ MORE)

Election officer seal the ballot box at Palayamkottai

AIADMK functionaries block Nagore-Nagapattinam Road

We hope authorities take steps to follow EC's guidelines: Visually Challenged Man

We hope that the authorities take steps to follow the Election Commission's guidelines in the future at the least. If such guidelines are followed and Braille sheets are provided, we will be independent and we will also be able to get a first-hand experice in voting without any one else's support: Visually challenged man

Braille sheet not provided, says visually challenged man

A visually challenged assistant English professor on Saturday said election authorities did not provide people like him a Braille sheet containing information on candidates and symbols to enable them to make an independent choice. While authorities said visually impaired people were helped and guided to make a choice inside the polling stations, the visually challenged person regretted non-compliance of Election Commission's norms in this regard which ensure making a choice on their own.

Tamil Nadu Urban Local Body polls conclude peacefully

Polling for electing ward members for 648 urban local bodies concludes peacefully across Tamil Nadu. The counting of votes is to happen on February 22.

64.5 per cent of votes recorded until 5 PM in Mayiladuthurai

DMK demands action against BJP man who objected to a woman voter wearing Hijab

A verbal duel broke out on Saturday between a BJP agent and others at a polling station near here, when he objected to a woman voter wearing a Hijab, following which the saffron party man was sent out of the booth. The ruling DMK strongly condemned the BJP man for opposing the Muslim woman and sought action against him.

73.46% votes cast in Ariyalur till 5PM

68.53 per cent of votes were cast in the urban local body elections in Perambalur district and 73.46% of votes were cast in Ariyalur district till 5 PM.

Many female booth staffs clad in Burqa, played their roles in conducting polls

Some photos from today's Tamil Nadu ULB polls

COVID-19 patient arrives to cast her vote

47.18 per cent polling recorded as of 3 PM

The voter turnout in urban local body elections across the State stands at 47.18 per cent, as of 3 pm on Saturday, said a statement from the State Election Commission. Dharmapuri district topped registering 65.68 per cent of polling, followed by Namakkal (64.19 %), Karur (63.56 %), Ariyalur (62.34 %) and Villupuram (60.14%). The districts which witnessed higher voter turnout have the highest number of town panchayats compared to other districts. As of 3 pm, the polling percentage in town panchayats stood at 61.38, municipalities at 53.49 and Corporations at 39.13. The voter turnout remains low in Chennai city with 31.89 per cent.

After SEC's clarification, MoS L Murugan arrives to cast vote in Washermenpet polling station

Minister of State of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry L Murugan arrived again at Chennai's Washermenpet polling station to cast his vote. Earlier, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai had accused that 'someone else' had voted in place of L Murugan. The State Election Commissioner Palanikumar later clarified that the confusion arose as another person by the same name was present on the voter list.

Polling ends for regular voters, voting reserved for COVID patients from 5-6 PM

Polling for general voters has come to an end in the Tamil Nadu ULB polls. Only COVID-positive patients or those having coronavirus symptoms are allowed to vote from 5 PM to 6 PM.

Elderly persons are seen showing inked finger

31.89 per cent votes registered in Chennai Corporation as of 3 PM

In the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Body polls, 31.89 per cent voter turnout was registered in the Chennai Corporation as of 3 PM.

MoS IB L Murugan's vote 'cast by someone else', claims Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai

WATCH | DMK Tenkasi (North) district secretary involved in scuffle

Minister of Information and Publicity MP Saminathan casts his vote

Elderly man fell unconscious near Ariyalur after casting his vote

WATCH | Voters arguing with staff and many left without casting votes

DMK MP Kanimozhi shares picture of indigenous community voting for first time

WATCH | Ariyalur Deputy Director of Health Services M Geetharani arrived on a bicycle to register her vote

Actors Suriya and Karthi show their ink-marked fingers after casting their votes

Tamil Nadu ULB polls vote percentage update

54.15 % of votes polled in Nagapattinam District till 3 PM

57.00 % of votes polled in Trichy District till 3 PM

56.08 % of votes polled in Villupuram District till 3 PM

54.97 % of votes polled in Perambalur District till 3 PM

Tamil Nadu ULB polls vote percentage update

57.68 % of votes polled in Cuddalore District till 3 PM

51.97 % of votes polled in Mayiladuthurai District till 3 PM

58.82% of votes polled in Tenkasi District till 3 PM

52.46% of votes polled in Ramanathapuram District till 3 PM

WATCH | BJP booth agent created a scuffle and was later detained in Melur police station

Kanniyakumari: 37.21 per cent polling upto 1 PM

Actors Suriya and Karthi on their way to cast their votes.

Police personnel helps an elderly person in a polling booth at Saidapet

WATCH | Women wait to cast their vote at polling booth in Chennai

Tamil Nadu records 35.34 per cent polling by 1 pm

About 35.34 percentage of votes polled in urban local body elections across the State on Saturday. Namakkal leads with 50.58 percentage of polling, followed by Karur with 50.04 percentage and Ariyalur with 49.43 percentage. Chennai's voter turnout stands at 23.42 percentage.

Polling peaceful across city, says Chennai Police Commissioner Jiwal

Chennai Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal said Urban Local Body polling has been peaceful across the city and there are no major incidents.

MNM chief Kamal Hassan and expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala cast their votes

Actor turned politician and Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Hassan and expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala had cast their votes.

WATCH | Twins cast their vote for first time

As of 1 PM, 42% votes were polled in Tiruchy district

As of 1 PM, 42% votes were polled during the local body elections in Tiruchy district

In City Corporation: 38 per cent.
In Municipalities: 41 per cent
In Town Panchayats: 31 per cent

Dear Chennai come out and vote: Greater Chennai Corporation

Polling picks up in Chengalpattu district

DMK leaders cast their votes

DMK leaders Kanimozhi and Udhayanidhi Stalin cast their votes in Chennai.

Tension at Melur as BJP booth agent asks Muslim woman to remove her fartha

Tension prevailed in Melur municipality's ward 8 as a BJP booth agent demanded a Muslim woman remove her fartha and mask to cross-check her name on the voters' list. According to sources, Muslim women wearing fartha along with masks came to cast their votes at the polling station in Al-Ameen High School in Melur Municipality. The booth agent of BJP, one Giriraj, has demanded one of them remove her mask and headscarf to cross-check with her photo on the voters' list. He said that it was not possible to cross-check the photos with the women wearing hijab. (READ MORE)

Candidates in Coimbatore corporation distributing different types of tokens to voters assuring costly gifts

WATCH | DMK Tenkasi district secretary P Sivapadmanathan seen quarrelling with cop

Voter came from Government Hospital, Srivilliputhur in stretcher to cast her vote

Close to 22 per cent polling across state so far

Latest polling figures from Theni

Update from Virudhanagar

Polling details from other districts

As of 11 am, 29.09% votes were polled during the local body elections in Tiruchy district. In Thanjavur district 15.7%votes polled till 11 pm. 26.16% votes polled till 11 am, in Sivaganga district.

Update from Ramanathapuram

DMK-led front will win all 21 municipal corporations, CM Stalin exudes confidence after casting vote

Responding to a question, the Chief Minister said, "People are casting their vote with all eagerness across the State since the DMK government has made many achievements during the past nine months. So, the people are more enthusiastic in voting for the DMK candidates in the local body elections than in the Assembly elections." (READ FULL STORY HERE)

Update from Sivaganga

WATCH VIDEO | DMDK candidate's mother brings sexual harassment allegations against DMK candidate's father

Update from Ramanathapuram

Update from Chengalpattu

Tamil Nadu CM casts his vote

Disabled voters face difficulties

More EVM glitches at Tiruchy

Following EVM malfunction polling was delayed by nearly 30 minutes at five polling centres at Musiri, Samayapuram, Manachanallur and Kattur areas in Tiruchy. New machines were brought to the centers to start polling process.

Chaos at multiple Coimbatore voting booths as voters sent back due to revised ward numbers and polling stations

  • Chaos broke out at several voting booths in many places of Coimbatore as people have been visiting the wrong polling stations on Saturday due to the change in ward numbers.

  • The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) recently revised the ward numbers of all the 100 wards in the 5 zones across the city. However, the officials failed to make the people aware of the new ward numbers.

  • Due to this, many of them were left in the dark without any idea of their new ward numbers or the polling station.

  • In this situation, some people who visited the same polling stations in which they had cast their vote during the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly elections last year were sent back due to change in ward numbers and polling booths. Chandrika (names changed), a voter from Subramaniyampalayam told TNIE

  • “It has been total chaos here. We came by 7 o'clock in the morning itself to cast our votes early. But we were tossed around by the officials due to change in ward numbers. My husband, my daughter, my son and myself – all 4 of them from the same house on the same street had to go to 4 different polling stations for voting, thanks to the revised ward numbers.”

  • Another voter Kumaran from KNG Pudur said “As I casted my vote in the Government middle school during the State assembly elections last year, I went to same polling station this year. But the officials sent me back saying that the polling booths have been changed due to a change in the ward numbers. No proper information or awareness were made by the district administration or the Coimbatore corporation. It's chaotic at all the polling stations and total time waste for the people.”

  • Polling station officials and the political party representatives who had set up their camps near the voting booth helped the voters identify their polling stations with their EPIC numbers.

    • WATCH VIDEO | Age no bar for this voter

    WATCH VIDEO | Now elections norms go for a toss at Thiruvallur

    Voter's unique way to protest against non availability of NOTA in EVMs

    Poll norms go for a toss in Virudhanagar

    Visuals from Tiruchy

    WATCH VIDEO | Actor Vijay casts his vote

    Update from Ambur

    Trichy Collector casts his vote

    Trichy District Collector S Sivarasu exercised his franchise in the urban body election at 7 am. He told the media that 17 FIRs were registered on cash for vote complaints.

    Visuals from Chennai's Saidapet

    Voters in Chennai's resettlement colonies want sports facilities, image makeover

    Ward councillors of resettlement colonies like Kannagi Nagar, Ezhil Nagar and parts of Semmencherry must shoulder added responsibilities apart from carrying out their usual duties, said the residents. The councillors should encourage young people, create sports opportunities and help rebuild image of the area, they said. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    As Chennai, suburbs go to poll, voters struggle to get booth slips

    “Around 90 per cent of residents in our street did not receive their booth slips. During the last local body elections in 2011, we got slips two days in advance. If the booth is far, we have to make travel arrangements. We appealed to the Chennai corporation officials numerous times and there was no response,” said V Jayaraman, president, T Nagar Welfare Residents Association. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Booths inaccessible to disabled, activists say SEC slacking off

    Though the Election Commission of India (ECI) took steps to provide facilities in the polling booths during the Assembly elections held in May, the State Election Commission (SEC) doesn’t take the issue seriously despite several representations, say activists. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

    Nothing local about it? Big issues dominate TN civic poll campaign

    The DMK’s campaign was centred on how the party fulfilled many of its poll promises within a short span of time. It also positioned itself as the only strong opponent to the BJP, which is in power at the Centre, and the only party fighting against NEET. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

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    TN civic polls
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    Tamil Nadu Civic Elections
    Tamil Nadu Civic Elections 2022
    Tamil Nadu Civic Polls 2022

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