Chennai Records Modest Voter Turnout with 31-39% by 11 AM
Chennai witnessed a modest voter turnout on Thursday morning, with provisional figures from the Election Commission of India indicating that polling percentages across the city's 16 assembly constituencies ranged between approximately 31% and 39% by 11 am. This data highlights a steady but unspectacular participation in the electoral process during the early hours.
Turnout Doubles Between 9 AM and 11 AM
Between 9 am and 11 am, voter turnout in all 16 assembly constituencies in Chennai nearly doubled, rising from the mid-teens to the mid-30s, with some segments even brushing 40%. This surge reflects a gradual increase in voter engagement as the morning progressed.
Leading and Lagging Constituencies
Virugambakkam and Thyagarayanagar continued to dominate the charts, recording the highest estimated turnouts at 39.27% and 39.08% respectively. They were followed closely by several other constituencies:
- Velachery: 37.18%
- Kolathur: 37.06%
- Anna Nagar: 36.70%
- Villivakkam: 36.92%
- Perambur: 36.26%
All these areas were in the upper 30s, indicating relatively higher voter participation. In contrast, some constituencies trailed behind:
- Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar: 31.37%
- Royapuram: 31.71%
- Mylapore: 31.47%
These were just above the 30% mark. Meanwhile, a cluster of constituencies, including Egmore (34.28%), Harbour (34.32%), Chepauk–Thiruvallikeni (34.44%), Thousand Lights (35.65%), and Saidapet (34.38%), fell in the mid-30% band, showing moderate turnout levels.
Unruly Crowds Disrupt Polling Process
Police had to intervene and clamp down on unruly crowds at multiple polling stations in Chennai on Thursday, as political leaders and film stars arrived to cast their votes, briefly disrupting the polling process. This led to restrictions on media access and general public movement in several areas.
Chaos at Neelangarai with Vijay's Vote
At Neelangarai, where Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay voted, the situation turned chaotic around 8:30 am. A massive crowd of fans and supporters surged towards the polling booth as his convoy arrived. Police responded by stopping the public from entering the premises and instructing media personnel not to enter the booth area.
Despite these restrictions, several individuals from Vijay's convoy managed to enter the polling station. The resulting hustle and crowding inside and outside the station slowed down the voting process for ordinary electors waiting patiently in queues. "The process was affected for some time. Those who had been waiting patiently were pushed back when the convoy came, and we were all told to move aside," said a voter, highlighting the disruption caused by the star's arrival.
Similar Scenes Across the City
Similar scenes unfolded in other parts of Chennai, where star power drew huge crowds to polling stations. At the Thiruvanmiyur polling booth, where actor Ajith cast his vote, police resorted to a mild lathi charge on a small group of people after they surged forward to catch a glimpse of the actor. A few individuals were dispersed, and voting eventually resumed.
In another high-profile incident, crowds swelled when superstar Rajinikanth arrived to vote, with fans jostling for space and raising slogans. Election officials noted that voting eventually normalized but conceded that the arrival of celebrities briefly overwhelmed crowd-control arrangements at these locations, underscoring the challenges of managing large gatherings during electoral events.
