By-elections to Alandur assembly constituency, on Thursday, were peaceful with 63.98 per cent of the electorate turning up for voting, much lower than the 70.07 per cent recorded in the 2011 elections.
A few instances of confusion, names missing in the voters’ list, faulty electronic voting machines (EVMs) and long waits were reported.
Voting at all 314 booths began on a dull note as only 11 per cent polling was recorded till 9 a.m., but it rose to 40 per cent by 11 a.m.
At Jawaharlal Nehru Boys Government Higher Secondary School in Nanganallur, booth agents of political parties did not arrive on time, delaying commencement of the poll exercise by 20 minutes. At Jaigopal Garodia Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Nanganallur, polling could not begin at 7 a.m. due to a faulty machine. It was replaced by 7.45 a.m. Voters became impatient and argued with officials.
At St. Dominic School in St. Thomas Mount, an EVM was replaced after 15 people cast their votes. Tension prevailed at DAV School and at St. Brittos School in Adambakkam, after AIADMK and DMK men got into heated arguments over the presence of unauthorised men inside the booths. Policemen had to intervene and disperse them.
R. Shreya said she was excited about casting her first-ever vote, that too for two candidates — one for the Parliament and the other for Assembly. She said arrangements were intact at the polling station.
V. Kalarani of Manapakkam said she enrolled for supplementary revision and, in a short duration, was given an opportunity to vote.
At Government High School, Mugaliwakkam, where there were eight booths, people waited in long queues in the morning to cast their votes but there were no complaints about the facilities.
Many voters, however, criticised the exercise of booth slip distribution as they had to approach the booth officials before entering polling stations. It took almost 30 minutes to locate names in the list and hand out booth slips.
