Even as candidates and their managers spent a day of silent campaign on Sunday, the weather forecast from the India Metrological Department (IMD) predicting wet conditions on Monday has added another unknown quantity to a rather unpredictable election.
The IMD has forecast heavy to very heavy rain (7 cm to 13 cm) at isolated places in the State on Monday and Tuesday.
Thunderstorms are also likely during the period.
Low pressure area
According to the weather inference issued by the IMD on Sunday evening, a well-marked low pressure area over the southwest Bay of Bengal and Sri Lanka persists. The system is likely to move north-westwards and turn into a depression in the next 24 hours. The condition will result in heavy to very heavy rain till it crosses the Tamil Nadu coast by Tuesday morning.
Rain impact
While candidates and their managers are worried about the impact of rain on voter turnout, they are busy making arrangements to bring voters to the booth.
“This will need additional manpower,” said one of them. “In spite of all our efforts, rain will give those who do not want to cast vote an effective excuse,” a UDF leader said.
Meanwhile, heavy rain will bring additional pressure on polling personnel.
Movement of physically challenged persons, and efforts to bring people from tribal settlements to the polling booths will be hit in case heavy rain persists throughout the day, it is pointed out.
