will be witnessing one of the closest electoral battles ever.For octogenarian Chief Ministers M Karunanidhi and V S Achuthanandan, both 87, this might be a major challenge in their electoral battle.
In Tamil Nadu, polling will be held in all the 234 constituencies. Over four and half crore voters will decide the fate of 2748 candidates including 141 women. For the first time, the election commission has distributed voter slips to the entire electorate in the state.
Special arrangements including ramps have been created in all polling stations to facilitate physically challenged to cast their votes. Besides DMK President and Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, who is contesting from Tiruvarur, the electoral fortune of those to be decided tomorrow include his son and Deputy Chief Minister M.K.Stalin from Kolathur and AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalitha contesting from Srirangam.
All the three top leaders are contesting from new constituencies in this election. Others in the fray include Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K.V.Thangabalu from Mylapore, DMDK President Vijayakanth contesting from Rishivandhiyam, PMK President G.K.Mani from Mettur, BJP President Pon Radhakrishnan from Nagercoil. The ruling DMK which has the Congress, PMK VCK and some other minor parties as its alliance is contesting in 119 seats. The Congress has been allotted 63 while the PMK 30. The opposition AIADMK has also formed a formidable alliance with the DMDK, CPI, CPM and some small parties as its poll partners. The AIADMK is contesting in 160 seats, the second major party in the alliance DMDK has been allotted 41 seats.
Electronic voting machines have been dispatched to the more than 53,000 booths spread across the state. Unprecedented security is in place, with more than 240 companies of paramilitary forces and over a lakh of police personnel will be deployed in polling booths. The Chief Electoral officer Praveen Kumar told newsmen that all arrangements have been made to ensure free and fair poll. Admitting that incidents of money distribution are reported despite its strong measures, he warned for the second day today that the commission may postpone elections in areas where such malpractice takes place.
In Kerala the main tussle is between CPIM led ruling LDF and Congress led UDF. Both BJP and BSP are also contesting in almost all constituencies in their effort to open account in Kerala assembly. Elaborate security is in place across the state especially in sensitive booths. More than two crore 31 lakh voters are eligible to vote. Female voters outnumber males in Kerala.
In Puducherry, all necessary arrangements have been made for peaceful polling tomorrow for the 30 member Assembly.