Assembly elections 2016: Tamil Nadu records 63 % turnout till 3 pm

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, May 16, 2016: Voting is underway for Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. Long queues were seen outside polling stations as soon as the voting began at 7 am.

Polling to 232 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu that will decide the fate of over 3700 candidates, including chief minister J Jayalalithaa and DMK chief M Karunanidhi, commenced today at 7 am.

Though Tamil Nadu has 234 assembly seats across 32 districts, polling is being held only for 232 as the Election Commission has postponed it for May 23 in Aravakurichi and Thanjavur segments following complaints of voters being bribed.

Polling is also underway across Kerala to elect 140 new legislators to the 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly.

The electoral battle in the state is principally between the traditional rival fronts -- the Congress-led UDF and the CPI-M-led LDF. But the BJP-led NDA alliance after a massive election campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also having high hopes.

Over 9.4 lakh voters are expected to exercise their democratic right of voting to elect their representatives in Puducherry as well. Voting began at 7 am today to elect the 30-member Assembly.