Chennai, Apr 23 (PTI) Tamil Nadu recorded 70 per cent voting on Thursday as polling for elections to 234 assembly constituencies was underway across the state.
According to Election Commission of India (EC) figures, voter turnout stood at exactly 70 per cent at 3 pm.
The DMK, which heads the Secular Progressive Alliance, is seeking to retain power and is leading a multi-party coalition that includes the Congress, Left parties and the VCK.
The AIADMK, heading the National Democratic Alliance, on the other hand is pushing for a return to power with allies BJP, AMMK and PMK among others in tow.
Actor Vijay-led TVK is attempting to break the decades long tradition of DMK and AIADMK alternatively ruling the state and form its government.
Salem district topped with 75.79 per cent voter turnout.
Chennai registered 68.13 per cent polling, while in Madurai it was 67.15 per cent, Coimbatore saw 71.16 per cent and the centrally located Tiruchirappalli district witnessed 71.05 percent polling.
Kolathur Assembly constituency in Chennai, where DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin is contesting, saw 70.24 polling till 3 pm.
At Chepauk-Tiruvallikeni here it was 67.68 per cent. Deputy CM and Stalin’s son, Udhayanidhi is trying his luck for the second time from this city constituency.
Similarly, Edappadi constituency in Salem recorded 75.84 per cent.
AIADMK general secretary and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is contesting from his traditional turf and is being challenged by the DMK, while actor Vijay’s TVK is backing an independent after the party nominee’s poll papers were rejected on technical grounds during scrutiny.
In Tiruchirappalli East, where Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay is contesting, 68.02 per cent polling was recorded till 3 pm. PTI SNR ROH
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