Big day for Tamil Nadu, the state goes to poll today. 232 constituencies of 234 will poll today, the polling in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur have been postponed due to large-scale electoral malpractice.
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08:42pm: Final polling percentage
Districtwise polling
Thondamuthur 65.72%
Singanallur 61.89%
Mettupalayam 74.86%
Coimbatore North 61.72%
Pollachi 77.31%
Coimbatore South 61.91%
Namakkal district: 82.10%
Tirupur 72.68%
Madurai 70.38%
Valparai 72.7%
Kinathkadavu 69.42%
Perambalur 79.54%
Tirunelveli 73.15%
Thiruvallur 71.20 %
Kanyakumari 66.31%
Nagapattinam 77%
08:25pm: Exit Polls C-Voter Times Now only survey to predict an AIADMK victory
6:46pm: Among all four states and Puducherry (UT) polls, Tamil Nadu recorded the lowest turnout.
6:30pm: Police arrested a man who attempted to damage ballot unit with a rival in Ramnad
6:20pm: One person was arrested with Rs. 10,000 cash for trying to distribute cash to voters: EC (The Hindu)
6:00pm: EC officials start distributing tokens to voters arriving at the polling booth
5: 30pm: Polling percentages till 5pm : 69.19 % of TN voters cast their vote
Coimbatore 65%
Pennagaram 85%
Chennai harbour 53%
Villvakkam 50%
Perambalur - 76.8%
Thanjavur - 76%
Thiruvarur - 72%
Tirunelveli - 67%
Chennai - 57%
Ariyalur - 81%
Dharmapuri - 82%
Tiruppur - 69%
Namakkal - 77.6%
Nilgiris - 68%
Madurai - 67.6%
Sivagangai 63.4%
Erode - 75%
Dindigul - 73.7%
Krishnagiri - 71%
Villupuram - 75%
Thiruvannamalai - 75.5%
Salem - 76%
Pudukottai - 73%
Kanchipuram - 69%
Cuddalore - 74%
Thiruvallur - 67.25%
5:15pm: A poll official (Vasundhara Devi) was shifted after a visually challenged voter’s assistant claimed that the official pressed DMK's symbol instead of AIADMK. (The Hindu)
4: 50pm: Governagiri voters withdrew from boycotting polls after electoral officers in Ottapidaram constituency held talks with them. (The Hindu)
4:44pm:
Polling till 4pm
Aiyalur- 78%
Jayamkondan-75%
4:30pm: Union Minister of State for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan cast his vote
4:15pm: Three villages in Tamil Nadu has not yet registered a single vote. Returning officers are encouraging them to vote, Lakhoni added
4:11pm : Voters who will arrive at the polling both by 6pm will be issued tokens (allowed to vote), Rajesh Lakhoni confirmed while addressing the media
3:35pm: 15 people injured as tree falls in polling booth due to torrential rains in Thiruvarur: Dinathanthi
3:34pm: The voter turnout till 3pm according to TV reports:
Voter turnout until 3pm is 63.7% in the state
Chennai-Chennai-50.27%
Kanchipuram-59%
Tambaram-55%
Pallavaram-55%
Vedaranyam - 59%
Nagapattinam - 60%
Ariyalur - 72%
Thiruvallur - 60.63%
Cuddalore - 54%
Pudukottai - 64%
Sivagangai - 58%
Thiruvarur - 62%
Senji - 70%
Natham - 56%
Arani - 67%
Madurai - 60.9%
Dindivanam - 65%
Rajapalayam - 59.5%
Palayamkottai - 56.2%
Kovilpatti - 57%
3:02pm: Congress leader Thyagarajan organizes road roko protesting detention of DMK cadres
2:53pm: Colachel AIADMK candidate K.T. Pachaimal's car seized for violation.
2:50pm: 1 AIADMK cadre injured in Injambakkam clash
2:46pm: Police drive away AIADMK and DMK supporters to prevent clash in Rambad district
2:30pm: Mild lathicharging by police to disperse AIADMK-DMK workers engaged in a clash at Karupupoovanpatti in Nilakottai fighting over transporting voters to polling booths
2:14 pm: Voters in Governagiri of Ottapidaram boycott polling despite insistence from EC officials in to convince them. (The Hindu)
2:10pm: Dalits in Sholavandan constituency refuse to cast vote as booths are located in Hindu dominated area (The Hindu)
1:57pm: A 95-year-old woman cast her vote today in muthukrishnaperi village in Alangulam constituency, Tirunelveli dist
A 95 year old woman cast her vote today in muthukrishnaperi village in Alangulam constituency, Tirunelveli dist pic.twitter.com/burtixvzXZ
— Ramanujam.K (@ramnellai) May 16, 2016
1:54pm: Polling disrupted. Battery of one of the EVMs reportedly drained out at Mylapore Govt High School (The Hindu)
1:35pm: BJP and AIADMK workers clash at Chennai's Nelson Manikam Road
1:33pm: CEO Rajesh Lakhoni says EC will decide if to extend polling time at delta districts at 3PM as there are signs of rains receding.
1:15pm: Polling percentages based on TV reports: State register 41.2 % polling by 1 PM
District-wise polling percentages
Karur-60%
Namakkal-52.04%
Madurai -48%
Virudhunagar- 45%
Chennai- 38%
Sivakasi- 46%
Sattur-49%
Nagai -37%
Vanur -45%
Srivalliputtur- 40%
Ranipet 57%
Arcot- 38%
Theni- 53%
Thiruvallur- 46%
Coimbatore- 52%
Arani- 53%
Anaikattu-45%
Pallavaram- 47%
Rajapalayam-48%
Tambaram- 37%
Cuddalore- 44%
Ariyalur-56%
Ullunderpet -51%
Kanyakumari- 28%
Tirupur- 46.65%
Krishnagiri 49.50%
Thiruvarur 42%
Erode- 48%
Ramanathapuram- 36%
Sivagangai-32%
Ranipet-57%
1:00pm: Protests erupt over inedible ink used by Booth 32 at Chennai's Vaidyanathan Bridge (The Hindu)
12:49pm: Anirudh Ravichandar casts his vote
12: 43pm: AIADMK and DMK workers clash in Hosur, one person reportedly injured
12:10pm: AIADMK and DMK workers clash in Jeyamangalm in Theni: Reports
11:38am: 4 injured after roof collapses in a polling booth in Devakottai
11:25am: Police intervenes after DMK-AIADMK workers clash with each other in Coimbatore West constituency: TV reports
11: 08am: CEO Rajesh Lakhoni: EC will consider extending the time for polling entirely or in parts keeping in mind the incessant rains. DMK also gave a representation to CEO for extension of polling time by one more hour (6 pm. to 7 pm)
11:00am: Tamil Nadu voter turn-out at 25.2% till 11am.
District-wise poll percentage by 11 am (Based on TV Reports)
Arani-42%
Madurai- 28.05
Chennai- 25%
Dindigul-21.59%
Gumidipoondi- 27.1%
Ponneri - 26.1%
Tirutani - 27.2%
Tiruvallur - 26.4%
Coimbatore - 16%
Ramanathapuram 18.5%
Karur- 19.5%
Cudaloor- 27%
Nilagiri 13.3
Tirupur 14.3
10:51am: Dayanidhi Maran votes at Nandanam
10:50am: Vijay casts his vote in Chennai. Vijay fans and Ajith fans spar over Ajith's voting ink-finger.
10:40am: Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan casts his vote. Thirumavalavan of VCK also casts his vote.
10:30am: It's raining in Chennai!
10:20am: Karunanidhi's wife Rajathi Ammal says she is confident DMK will win the polls.
10:00am: Kanimozhi: AIADMK is distributing money in massive proportions, but DMK will win. High polling percentage is advantage DMK.
9.55 am Jayalalithaa arrives at Stella Maris college to cast vote. As she leaves, Jaylalithaa says: "After two days, we will know what the people's verdict is."
Images: Jayalalithaa casts her vote. #TNVotes pic.twitter.com/hJP6pmIkia
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) May 16, 2016
9:48am: 39 EVM machines develop glitches in Namakkal, have been replaced.
9:47am: May 19, 2016 is the Independence Day for Tamil Nadu
9:45am: Two DMK men injured in clashes in Oddanchatram
9:43am DMDK leader Captain Vijayakant casts vote in Saligramam
9:40 am PMK leader S Ramadoss, son Anbumani Ramadoss cast vote; slam DMK, AIADMK for freebie culture and alcoholism in Tamil Nadu
9.30 am Councilor attacks voters Oddanchataran, Tamil Nadu. Protesters stage road roko: TV reports
9:20: O Panneerselvam: It has become certain that Jayalalithaa will return as the CM of Tamil Nadu
9:15am: Tamil Nadu voter turn-out at 18.3% till 9:15AM
9:11am: Reports: Technical snag in EVMs in Kanyakumari, EC officials are looking into it, spare EVMs on standby.
8:55: Karunanidhi says that the EC's measures to reduce electoral corruption have been satisfactory.
8:45am: The Hindu reports technical snag in EVMs in Tirunelveli, 12 EVMs delayed voting in Virudhunagar.
8:35am: No amount of money can change the anti-AIADMK mood of the people, says MK Stalin, as he demands CBI inquiry into alleged cash for votes in two constituencies.
8:30am: Left leaders Nallakannu and G Ramakrishnan cast their vote
8:20am: P Chidambaram slams AIADMK and EC, says it's no secret that the party has distributed a lot of money, and EC has not stopped it. He added that rains would lay the path to change
8:15am: MK Stalin, his wife Durga and son Udayanidhi Stalin arrive to cast their vote in Chennai.
8:10: Reports: Rains in several parts of Tamil Nadu including Trichy and Madurai. Will this impact voter turn-out?
8:00am: Watch an old couple arrive to vote at a polling booth in Chennai
An old couple arrive to vote at Stella Maris booth in Chennai. If they can vote you can vote https://t.co/Yl3Z4coKT1https://t.co/kZ6y4uY0NZ
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) May 16, 2016
7:55am: Thala Ajith and Shalini vote in Chennai. Video:
Exclusive#Thala Shalini Mam & Ajith Sir Mother at #TNElection2016 Voting Booth :) pic.twitter.com/B3XTffGhbY
— DinesH | AdviK AjitH (@Dinu_Ajith57) May 16, 2016
7:50am: TN Congress Chief EVKS Elangovan arrives to vote in Erode.
7:45am: Kamal Haasan arrives to vote along with Gautami, fans at the polling booth clamouring.
7:40am: Reports that many leaders are out to vote before Rahu Kalam begins today.
7:30am: Karunanidhi arrives to vote, says, "Our winning chances are very bright. The conduct of EC as of now is good. We will win the required number of seats to form the government."
7:12am: Rajinikanth arrives to cast his vote, encourages people to do their duty and vote
Watch video here:
The commotion at Stella Maris college booth as Rajinikanth comes.to.cast vote #TNVotes pic.twitter.com/mwYCwBqJ5z
— TheNewsMinute (@thenewsminute) May 16, 2016
7am: Polling begIns in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.