Chennai, April 22 (IANS) Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled to be held in the state, Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said that a total of 4,18,541 postal votes have been recorded so far across the state, reflecting steady and sustained participation from service voters, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities across various districts.

Addressing reporters at the Secretariat in Chennai on Tuesday, she outlined the extensive, multi-layered, and comprehensive arrangements made by the Election Commission of India to ensure smooth, orderly, and peaceful polling in the state, which is set to go to the polls in a single phase on April 23.

Patnaik said that Tamil Nadu has a total electorate of approximately 5.73 crore voters, covering a diverse demographic spread across urban, semi-urban, and rural regions of the state.

Polling will be conducted across all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, with as many as 75,064 polling stations established across the state to facilitate voter participation and ensure accessibility.

To facilitate the voting process in an efficient and seamless manner, authorities have deployed 1,06,418 electronic voting machines (EVMs), ensuring adequate availability, redundancy, and backup systems in case of any technical contingencies during polling hours.

Security arrangements have been significantly strengthened and scaled up, with as many as 83,875 police personnel deployed across the state at polling stations, strong rooms, and other sensitive locations to maintain law and order.

In addition to the state police deployment, a total of 300 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), have been stationed across sensitive and vulnerable areas to maintain peace and prevent any untoward incidents during the polling process.

The Chief Electoral Officer also highlighted the intensified enforcement measures undertaken in the run-up to the elections, with a focus on curbing electoral malpractices and illegal inducements.

She revealed that authorities have seized cash, gifts, liquor, and other inducements worth Rs 1,262 crore so far as part of sustained efforts to ensure a level playing field for all candidates and political parties contesting the elections.

Reiterating the Election Commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections, Patnaik said that strict monitoring and vigilance measures will continue until the completion of polling and the sealing of all EVMs.

Flying squads, surveillance teams, and static monitoring units have been actively deployed and are continuously working across districts to check violations of the Model Code of Conduct and to respond promptly to any complaints.

She also issued a reminder to voters regarding polling day protocols and guidelines that need to be followed at polling stations.

Mobile phones will not be allowed inside polling stations, and special arrangements have been made at polling booths for voters to safely deposit their devices before entering the polling premises to cast their votes.

With elaborate logistical arrangements, robust security deployment, and strict enforcement measures in place, the Election Commission has expressed confidence in conducting peaceful, orderly, and transparent elections across Tamil Nadu without any major disruptions.

–IANS

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